Spark Lab and Wilderness Street

Creativity Taking Root in the High Street

CLIENT

London Borough of Redbridge

Transforming a former department store on the High Street of Ilford, Spark Lab was an innovative, community-led incubation space providing local people with the opportunity to launch, experiment and grow their creative business ideas and projects.

Commissioned by the London Borough of Redbridge and envisioned in collaboration with Jan Kattein Architects, Spark Lab community space hosted seven residencies across a year, including OOMK Ltd.’s Print Workshop, Caramel Rock’s next generation fashion lab and artist Sheyamali Sudesh’s celebration of green spaces in Redbridge.

Central to Spark Lab’s ethos was cultural democracy, placing local people at the heart of decision making. A panel of young people, business owners and local residents sat on a commissioning panel to curate the year-long programme, ensuring that the space reflects the community’s needs and aspirations.

Adjacent to Spark Lab sat Wilderness Street, a statement pop-up park installation in the centre of town. Transforming over 1000 sqm of the High Street, Wilderness Lab was imagined to reconnect Ilford’s urban centre with its natural heritage. Designed as a six month temporary installation, the 80 trees that made up Wilderness Street were donated to local community spaces, leaving a lasting environmental legacy.

Spark Lab and Wilderness Street have earned national acclaim, being shortlisted for prestigious awards including the New London Architecture Award, the MacEwen Award, and The Pineapple Award for Urban Regeneration in 2023. Its unique blend of social and environmental contributions is helping to position Ilford as a cultural destination, drawing visitors and locals alike into its evolving creative landscape.