Brixton Windmill Education & Community Centre

The new Education & Community Centre at Brixton Windmill, the last working windmill in London, was designed as a flexible building to support a range of community activities hosted by the Grade II*-listed landmark, to secure its use for future generations. Funds generated by a programme of events in the new centre allow Friends of Windmill Gardens (FoWG) charity to continue its work preserving the heritage of Brixton Windmill. The project was introduced to the practice in 2016 by local print designers Eley Kishimoto, the windmill’s cultural ambassadors in its bi-centenary year who created its iconic ‘Flash’ sailcloth. FoWG and Lambeth Council reached out to us to unlock the 10-year-stalled project by creating a design that acted as a catalyst to release funding from Lambeth Council. Submitted for planning in 2016, the building was completed in 2020. The building is designed to serve a variety of users – school groups, adult education initiatives, community groups and local residents – and act as a platform for FoWG to showcase the historic mill and host open days and festivals. Conceived as a simple, beautiful timber framed space, the main hall and café can be hired for events to create revenue for FoWG. The building also supports the expansion of the social enterprise of milling flour for local bakeries, restaurants and retailers, with a plan to run baking workshops in the centre. Designs respond to the original miller’s outbuildings with a contemporary pitched roof structure and dark weatherboard cladding. Bookend gable walls in a soot-washed engineered brick reference the black painted windmill tower. A series of bi-fold doors allow the centre to be incrementally opened up onto a terrace overlooking the windmill and gardens. Sliding slatted panels allow light in and provide security when the building is unoccupied. Internally, skylights flood the space with natural light, and bespoke plywood joinery defines the café serving area and pop-up shop with built-in display areas. Low level units are designed for flexible use – as tables, storage or museum/shop displays. Jean Kerrigan, Chair of Friends of Windmill Gardens: “Brixton Windmill has been at the heart of Lambeth for over 200 years. The opening of the education building is a momentous occasion for us and will allow FoWG to continue serving the local community by providing vital space for workshops, classes and our flour production. I would like to thank architects, Squire and Partners, for their design, commitment and generous support for this project and Lambeth Council for recognising the role FoWG has played within our local community for the past 17 years and having the confidence in our volunteers’ ability to manage this wonderful new community space.” Cllr Sonia Winifred, Lambeth’s Cabinet member for Equalities and Culture: “I’m delighted that we have completed this project. The Windmill is such a valuable community asset and landmark for the borough. This new education centre will help people learn about the Windmill’s fascinating past and present, encourage more people to visit the site and create an important legacy for future generations.”.