Brixton Windmill Education & Community Centre

Squire & Partners has completed a new Education and Community Centre adjacent to Brixton Windmill for Friends of Windmill Gardens (FoWG) and Lambeth Council. The centre will support activities hosted by the Grade II* listed heritage building, and secure its use for future generations.

Conceived as a simple and beautiful timber framed space, the building is designed to serve a variety of users – including school groups, adult education initiatives, community groups and local residents – and act as a platform for FoWG to showcase the historic mill and host Open Days and festivals. The facility supports the expansion of milling activities and the social enterprise which sells Brixton Windmill flour to local bakeries, restaurants and retailers, as well as running baking workshops.

Designs respond to the site’s agricultural history by creating a contemporary crafted pitched roof structure using a Douglas Fir timber frame, and cladding the exterior in a dark weatherboard. The structure is book-ended by two gable walls in a black brick to reference the tar sealed Windmill tower. Internally, the main space features the exposed timber frame and full height sliding doors opening onto a decked external terrace overlooking the park. A grain store, kitchen, administration, cycle parking and WCs are also provided.