Livesey Exchange (LEX) is a grassroots initiative in South London that exemplifies the transformative power of sustained community involvement. Focused on building resilient neighbourhoods and fostering a sustainable future, LEX highlights the significant impact a small, locally-led project can have. LEX connects existing and new communities within the Old Kent Road Opportunity Area, offering high-quality communal spaces for socialising, learning, and cultural activities.

As a resident of the Old Kent Road and co-founder of the architecture practice what if: projects, Ulrike Steven has led several collaborative initiatives that creatively engage with planning processes, meaningfully contributing to the regeneration of the Old Kent Road area where 20,000 new homes, the size of a new town, will transform the urban landscape. (Refer to Old Kent Road project series). One prominent example of a collective effort is the Livesey Exchange (LEX), a new building and cultural programme born from long-term collaboration among residents, local authorities, professional consultants, and the third sector.

Initiated by Nicholas Okwulu (Pempeople) and developed with architect Ulrike Steven (what if: projects), LEX has received support from a diverse coalition, including Southwark Council, the GLA, engaged residents, and local organizations. From its early days, activating the Ledbury Estate garages (LEX 1) facilitated through the Mayor’s Crowdfunding Campaign in 2016, this impactful project has revitalised Old Kent Road, establishing a new cultural destination and providing affordable workspaces. The first phase of the new buildings (LEX 2), which includes an event space and workrooms, has been completed in collaboration with the innovative contractor Work Ltd. Embracing circular economy principles and partnering with the contractor, this CLT building has been designed for disassembly, low energy use, and achieving Zero Carbon.

BUILDING WITHOUT BUILDING: Much of the design work over the past years has focused on shaping the process and facilitating communication with the client group, future users, stakeholders, and the wider public. (Refer to Old Kent Road project series) A series of public events, which created new spatial experiences and involved hands-on workshops (LEX 1), as well as large models of the proposed buildings and the OKR high street, played a crucial role in actively engaging the community and breaking down barriers to planning processes. These events were organized in collaboration with Pempeople, the community interest group Action OKR/Peckham Weeklies, the business association Vital OKR, and many local makers and artists.

STRATEGIC: The challenge of working with a continuously evolving brief, budget limitations, complex site constraints, and diverse user requirements has led to a lean proposal that offers ultimate flexibility in response to future changes in the site perimeter, users, and available capital funding. The design features a simple and robust sculptural composition consisting of two building volumes connected by an entrance structure, allowing for phased delivery. The proposed illuminated and tall entrance canopy highlights the historic route of Lovegrove Street across the site, drawing attention to the new buildings amidst the future high-rise developments in the immediate neighbourhood.

ADAPTIVE RE-USE: The new LEX buildings and the entrance structure that connects them are designed for disassembly, allowing elements and the limited range of materials to be reused on an alternative site at the end of the 10-15 year lease. The fixings are detailed so that the CLT structural wall and ceiling elements, the external insulated cladding, and the doors and windows can be dismantled without removing finishes or layers of decorative material. All internal finishes are exposed CLT. This very limited and robust material palette is complemented by carefully crafted large window and door openings.

KEY RESILIENCE METRICS:
+ 80% of the building can be disassembled and reused
+ 70% of building made from biobased material (cross laminated timber)
+ highly insulated building envelope
+ blue roof
+ energy efficient plant and equipment
+ permeable surfaces to all external areas
+ no decorative surfaces or finishes
+ minimal waste enabled by
+ hyper granular BIM model developed by the contractor Work Ltd