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 | | FREELAND REES ROBERTS ARCHITECTS ANNOUNCE COMPLETION OF FOUR PHASE EXPANSION OF HOMELESS CHARITY EMMAUS CAMBRIDGE | | | Freeland Rees Roberts Architects | | 24/06/2008 | | | Freeland Rees Roberts Architects have announced that the masterplan for the expansion of Emmaus Cambridge has recently been completed. The Emmaus Community occupies a six acre site in Landbeach, north of Cambridge, and offers homeless people a home, work and a chance to rebuild their lives. Their initial accommodation consisted of two converted cattle sheds providing residential and retail units. Freeland Fees Roberts Architects were commissioned to masterplan the expansion which developed into four phases of work.
Graham Riley, Director of Freeland Rees Roberts Architects and Project Architect said: “Phases I and II provided a warehouse, workshop and a refurbished and expanded retail area, refurbishment and extension of the residential accommodation, providing 18 new bed-sitting rooms for the resident companions, a community leader residence, communal dining facilities, TV rooms, library and lounge, all arranged around a paved courtyard, taking them to 24. Phase III increased the companion accommodation up to 30 room and provided an additional community leader flat. The final phase IV just completed provided accommodation for two assistant community leaders and much needed additional catering storage.”
Mr Riley continued: “Economical use of materials was a central part of the design. The buildings are constructed in brick and timber cladding blockwork, roofing materials range from coloured corrugated fibre-cement and metal sheeting through to the glazed shop entrance. The warehouse incorporated a steel frame recycled from a demolished building, cut and remodelled to suit.”
Paul Bain, Community Leader at Emmaus Cambridge, commented: “We are delighted with the outcome of the expansion project designed by Freeland Rees Roberts Architects. The Community has gone from strength to strength, becoming fully self supporting through the hard work of companions, the name we give to those living in the Community, and staff.”
Mr Bain continued: “By collecting, refurbishing and selling furniture and other household goods no longer needed by their owners in our shop, the Community has been able to increase the original intake of companions to 30 and provide 4 units of staff accommodation as staff live on site with the companions. As a result, we are also able to directly support other local organisations helping homeless people and those affected by poverty, including the East Anglian Foodbank. Also, by offering goods at a discounted rate to those in receipt of some state benefits, we aim to help those on the lowest incomes in society and by doing so, continue to fulfil the original aims of Abbé Pierre’s vision: “To serve the most needy before ourselves”.”
Emmaus Cambridge community was the first to be established in the UK. Opened in 1992 by Terry Waite CBE, the Community is home to up to thirty people who were formerly homeless. Emmaus Cambridge’s aim is to help people help themselves. On joining the Community, companions commit to working 40 hours a week, sign off state benefits and every one lives by the principle of helping others to live, grow and find dignity through sharing, work and self respect. Emmaus Communities offer homeless people a home, work and the chance to rebuild their lives in a supportive environment. There are currently 14 Communities open around the UK and several more in development. Emmaus relies on donations of good quality furniture and household goods from the public, which are sold in Emmaus shops.
Award-winning Freeland Rees Roberts Architects work on a variety of schemes for charitable clients, including Storey’s House, Cambridge for The Foundation of Edward Storey and The Bishop’s Old Palace, Ely and Thorpe Hall, Peterborough for The Sue Ryder Foundation. | |
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