Assemble - Richmond - Concept

This project explores how traditional construction methods can shape architecture to strengthen community, diversity, and social interaction. The brief investigated the catchment of Richmond, considering architecture as a tool for developing a sense of place.

The site sits between the River Thames and a key route connecting Richmond Park to the town centre. The proposal takes the form of a bakery centred around traditional baking processes, with ancillary spaces arranged around a primary baking and dining hall. Together, these spaces operate as a cohesive system in which each element supports the others rather than existing in isolation.

Inspired by Tudor kitchens and dining halls, the project is based on the idea that food is prepared and shared at the same tables, encouraging collective use and social exchange. Secondary spaces including the kiln, wash room, and larder are organised logically around the central hall to support these communal activities.

The post and beam structure expresses the act of assembly and is exposed within the main hall to celebrate the construction process. A brick outer skin ties the building to the local vernacular, while the massing articulates the hierarchy of spaces across the elevation. The main hall is defined by a heavy upper volume resting on a series of slender columns, creating a sense of compression, enclosure, and intrigue through controlled views. In contrast, the kiln anchors the building to the ground, connecting the primary mass to the landscape and reinforcing the permanence of the space.