The first of its kind in the UK, A House for Artists is an ambitious model for affordable and sustainable housing tied to long-term public engagement in Barking Town Centre. Designed by architectural studio APPARATA, it provides flexible living and work space for fourteen artists and their families. In return for reduced rent, the artists deliver free creative programmes for the neighbourhood in the ground floor community hall, shaped in dialogue with the community.

A House for Artists presents a new model for arts participation, forming both a community inside the building and within the local area. Resident artists can use the ground floor as work studios for their own practices as well as for a public programme of events. Each set of three apartments share a communal outdoor space, designed for eating and working together, as well as access. One floor of apartments has double doors, creating optional and flexible shared living possibilities for activities such as parties, childcare or co-working.

Voted one of the Observer’s top five buildings, A House for Artists is the first of its kind in the UK, with the potential to be used as a model for other locations. Please sign up to our newsletter to hear news about our ongoing programme of free drop-in events and workshops.

A House for Artists was co-commissioned by Create London and  the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (LBBD);  delivered by BeFirst and supported by the Mayor of London. The public programme is supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and The Rayne Foundation.