top of page

INNER CITY SANCTUARY

The Inner City Sanctuary was proposed to be set within Bournemouth in response to their increasing issue concerning homelessness. The space aimed to re-design a ‘homeless shelter’ by providing guests with hope, opportunity and a home. The design mimicked a city, creating a microcosm of safety and a new start to guests within the sanctuary. The space aimed to build bridges within the community promoting equality.

SOFTWARE USED Revit, Photoshop, AutoCAD, Indesign.

INNER CITY SANCTUARY rendered section

The idea of creating a new city within the space reflected an oppourtunity of a new start in a new place that residents could call home. The reception area was light and welcoming, the city facades created interest and encouraged guests to look up and explore. The inwards facing facades reflected the sense of community, taking inspiration from streets within our cities.

I created a reception space which connoted the symbol of home, making the area welcoming and approachable. I took inspiration from traditional wayfinding poles, to navigate the public and residents through the space, reflecting how people navigate through a city. The materials used were natural and calming; using nature and plants throughout the space reflecting the power that biophilic design can have on the residents.

INNER CITY SANCTUARY reception

INNER CITY SANCTUARY reception

INNER CITY SANCTUARY community cafe

A focused area of design was the community cafe. This space was important as it created a dignified space for vulnerable people to eat. The restaurant was also open to the public creating a communal area for the residents and public to connect. The space provided education and opportunity for the residents, allowing them to gain work experience and cooking skills which would set them up for future job opportunities. The design of the space was welcoming and comforting for everyone. It followed the theme of biophillic design, a hanging foliage feature from the atrium creates interest, encouraging the public to look up and see the different space in which the sanctuary offers. The restaurant promoted communal seating to encourage engagement and interaction between people.

INNER CITY SANCTUARY community cafe

INNER CITY SANCTUARY community cafe

INNER CITY SANCTUARY community cafe

The design consisted off 6 floors and a roof top. Shown in the exploded axonometric, you can see how I created an interesting design by encouraging interaction between floors by creating atriums. The first 3 floors were open to the public to encourage visitors to explore and see all of the wonderful work happening within the sanctuary. The top 3 floors were private to residents, creating a safe space for them to call home. The rooftop encouraged gardening and community events to build relationships within the sanctuary.

bottom of page