Elsenham Centre

Set beside the playing fields at the heart of Elsenham, this proposal explored how a growing village could invest in a building that strengthens social connection while reducing long-term environmental impact.

From the outset, the ambition was simple: to create a place that people of all ages could build their lives around. A hall for youth football presentations and evening fitness classes. A café where parents wait after school and older residents meet for coffee. Meeting rooms for parish discussions, clubs and local initiatives. The centre was conceived not just as a building, but as shared infrastructure for everyday life.

The design maximised natural daylight and passive solar gain, reducing reliance on artificial lighting and heating. A highly insulated envelope, triple glazing, passive ventilation and heat recovery were combined with solar PV, green roofs and rainwater harvesting to create a low-energy civic building designed for long-term use and low running costs, important for community-led stewardship.

Structurally, the scheme was conceived in cross-laminated timber (CLT), using modular and prefabricated methods to reduce waste and embodied carbon. The warmth of exposed timber and locally sourced larch cladding was intended to create an atmosphere that feels welcoming rather than institutional; robust, honest materials that age well and belong to their landscape.

Internally, a flexible main hall capable of subdivision, a café overlooking the pitches, accessible changing facilities and community offices were arranged to support a wide spectrum of activity. The layout prioritised safe pedestrian access and strong connections to surrounding green spaces, reinforcing the playing fields as a shared civic heart.

At its best, a community centre is not defined by its walls, but by the lives that unfold within it; conversations, celebrations, quiet mornings, shared victories. This proposal sought to give Elsenham a building that could hold those moments for generations to come.