Trowbridge Gardens is a council owned affordable workspace studio and creative hub, operated by Arbeit Projects that is home to 30 artist studios, social enterprises and local businesses.

Hackney Wick is an area undergoing significant change, with a clear need for proactive intervention to protect one of the largest clusters of artist studios and creative businesses in Europe. London Borough of Hackney and the London Legacy Development Corporation are committed to safeguarding the long term future of this unique community and access to affordable workspace via the planning system by putting in place clear affordable workspace requirements and obligations for new developments. However, further Council led creative regeneration interventions have been required in the short to medium term whilst longer term development schemes are built, to ensure the local creative community is not displaced from the area.

Working with a Hackney approved workspace provider from the Council’s Approved Workspace provider list, Arbeit Project Ltd and with funding from the Mayor of London’s Good Growth Fund, the London Borough of Hackney has transformed an underutilised council asset into a mixed use creative hub in the centre of Hackney Wick. Trowbridge Gardens is home to 30 studios for local artists and designers; Strong + Bendy fitness studio & exercise garden; Thingy cafe; natural remedy shop Itufan; local catering company Boulevard; a Men's Shed; gallery space and community gardens maintained by Hackney Herbal.

The Council offered the building to workspace providers at a reduced rate, and affordable workspace and social value outputs have been prioritised ahead of financial returns for this council owned asset. Over the course of the project, Arbeit and the local businesses on site will be delivering employment, training and work placement opportunities for local residents, as well as community events and open days. 2021 will see further innovation on site, with CNC cut pods installed by community business Wick CNC Ltd in the Muf Architecture/Art designed public gardens to provide further workspaces and spearhead a sustainable approach to expanding the site. At a time when the future of the workplace and changing nature of work has been brought into stark focus, Trowbridge Gardens is an example of a distinctly local community hub in which like minded individuals can work, socialise, exercise, learn and play under one roof.

Trowbridge Gardens has been a great opportunity for us to create a unique space in Hackney Wick and respond to a real need to give local residents and businesses genuine long-term engagement.

By giving access to previously closed spaces, Hackney Council has allowed the local community to re-discover its area and helped with re-imagining how facilities could be better used.

Working with the council we have managed to curate a good mixture of users that consists of existing tenants, local at risk businesses, non-profit organisations, and local artists and designers.

During Covid-19 we have faced new challenges, but together with the council we have found a way to relieve most of the pressure from our members and offer them the support needed.

Nimrod Vardi
Founder & Creative Director
Arbeit Project Ltd