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This thesis has aimed to work with the charity, the ‘South Riverside Community Development Centre’ to deliver a transformative, consultative vision for Riverside, Cardiff. By proposing to refurbish the Brunel Building into a new, 100 year home of charitable and community activity. This work began with seeing the principal beauty of putting people at the centre of control. How conversation, engagement, consultation, participation and collaboration helps to distribute a more equitable power, and therefore stewardship and self governance. Thus extending the valued life of our products.

At the centre of Riverside, then, has been the SRCDC and their base of operations - or what is colloquially known as the Brunel Building. The charity was founded and built by locals some 50 years ago, who were able to purchase the Brunel Building via government grant in 1987. It has since been a long standing home of advocacy, learning and support in Riverside. But has suffered from significant and increasingly strenuous legacy issues.

To build on their consultative history, and to put the community of Riverside at its centre - together, we designed a mutually beneficial, participatory process to deliver a vision that captures the needs, loves and hopes of Riverside. In what can now be considered a live project. Two months worth of collaboration - an immense source of data - would then need to be condensed into six tectonic models - the project brief. Meant as conceptual design tools that start to translate the intangible into the tangible. A measuring device for any future communal space in Riverside. Vision For the work to Welcome, Support, Inspire and Educate Riverside into a Healthier, Happier and Cleaner environment. Refurbishment To make accessible, safe, light, open, professional spaces for all. Programme. For the new building to function as a Home from Home. A ground floor that inspires. A first floor that educates. A second floor that supports. And a Roof space that cares. Extension For the architecture to reach out, draw in and inspire pride and stewardship. Green Space For technology and nature to better harmonise, and bring life into the internal spaces. Structure For the new structure to be Present, Flexible, Interactable, Soft and

The collaborative process, and quality of vision so far shown to the community has helped to inspire the SRCDC in the hopes of a better built future. They have requested a full set of drawn information, models and videos to function as a vehicle in their own future consultative work and ultimately push for funding. This is in my mind the true value of this thesis – that by putting the community at this project’s centre, they are able to take control, and add this page to their story in Riverside.