Regenerating a Lost Sense of Adventure

We love working with community led clients and the Scouts with their long tradition of helping young people learn vital skills are one of the best examples imaginable. Our clients, the 2nd Whalley Range Scout Group, is made up of intrepid Cubs, Beavers, Scouts and Explorers who have provided endless inspiration and incredible volunteers/parents who have been incredible to work with.

However, unfortunately, the existing Scout Hut where all of this magic happens is two parts incredible mixed with one part crumbling. Over time, the Hut has become increasingly decrepit and saving these inefficient timber framed structures was never a viable option. Having stood the test of time for over 60 years of service, the Scout Troop required a modern facility to meet the needs of the next 100 years to continue bringing adventure to the youth of today.

Adding value to a project like this is more nuanced than it might seem at first glance. The stories that are embodied within the existing hut are part of that building. Tearing them down to make way for something sparkling and brand new might mean leaving behind those long years which have added weight and purpose to the weekly activities of the Scouts. We were very keen to ensure that our new proposals protected the heart of the Scouts and that the building was a part of the existing community before it was even constructed. Give that problem to four groups of excited young people and you end up with cardboard robots designed to help build the new hut and a series of bridge proposals exploring the structural capacity of twine! We're always in awe of the capabilities of these children and young adults which is why we thought WikiHouse might be a perfect fit to enable a community design to come to life through construction engagement.