PUP Architects’ transformation of Surrey Docks Farm in London blends sustainability, connectivity, and playful design, elevating this riverside community hub into a vital cultural and educational asset.
Completed in 2020 with an £860k budget, the project exemplifies how modest yet strategic interventions can profoundly reshape a civic space. The remodelling and extension of the farm’s facilities not only enhance its operational capacity but also amplify its presence as a community anchor on the banks of the Thames. The project’s accolades—including the New London Awards Mayor's Prize 2020 and the Architects' Journal Retrofit Award—underscore its architectural and cultural impact.
At its core, the redesign revolves around augmenting the farm’s civic identity while embracing sustainability. The introduction of key new spaces, such as a teaching kitchen, meeting rooms, and a glazed orangery, creates functional yet inviting environments that benefit both visitors and volunteers. Notably, the revived three-story tower, crowned with a golden pig weathervane, serves as a playful yet poignant civic landmark. PUP’s sensitive landscaping reconfigures the riverside frontage, transforming the formerly overlooked Thames Path into an inclusive and lively public realm. This careful reorientation fosters connectivity between the farm and its urban context, inviting greater engagement with the site.
The project’s sustainability credentials shine through in its fabric-first approach and emphasis on resource reuse. By retaining and upgrading existing structures, the architects minimized carbon output, integrating high-performance insulation, structural timber, and recycled materials such as granite and brick. These environmentally conscious interventions harmonize with the farm’s mission of promoting responsible farming and environmental stewardship, ensuring that the architecture reflects its ethos.
As one of London’s few remaining city farms, Surrey Docks Farm stands as a hybrid space of agricultural, educational, and civic functions. PUP Architects have woven these roles into a design that respects the site’s past while equipping it for the future. With its renewed focus on community accessibility, sustainability, and educational outreach, the farm is a vital testament to the potential of architecture to serve as both a local landmark and a catalyst for social connection.
