MULTIFAITH CENTRE

WAM have worked on a variety of projects and the multi-faith project designed by David Walker is a good example of being able to bring fresh-thinking to create something special, Located in the new Westfield Stratford City Shopping centre (the largest in Europe), and adjacent to the London Olympic site – the space was to perform the difficult task of being welcoming to users, both non-religious and religious and from various faiths, to provide contemplation and calmness away from the retail environment. This is achieved by a subtle split of the area into two spaces - a reconfigurable main space and a smaller “side space”, while they exist happily side by side they are defined in different ways. The main space uses curved elements to hide lighting which washes across the adjacent surfaces, the ceiling element also provides a definition or focus as well as controlling the acoustics. In this space we designed two “boomerang” shaped mobile screens allowing the space to be configured for different uses. The side space or lounge is a subtle contrast to the main space being long and rectangular, the ceiling is made from timber panels which are “fractured” to allow the lighting to wash out from the openings. This space is furnished with acoustic highback sofas, which provide privacy and can be grouped to allow single, double or upto 4 people in an intimate setting. Both spaces are defined by red brick walls – this was deliberately chosen as a small-scale and “domestic” finish which is completely different to the retail environment outside. The entrance is defined by with a short corridor and the washing spaces to one side. The space has been extremely successful, originally intended for use by some of the 10,500 people who work on site or nearby, it has become a destination in its own right and attracts many positive comments from people of all faiths.