Sheffield’s Local Film Archive and Activists’ Centre
Sheffield has a long tradition on politics and activism, mainly due to the steel industry and the steel workers’ unions. The two universities in the city are also very much politically involved, adding a different element to the political background of Sheffield. The building, located in the heart of the student life, livens up the community sense of the area. It is an education centre about the history of protests in the city and also an activism workshop that gets people of all ages and backgrounds involved. The education and organisation comes mainly through a local film archive, and film and photography exhibitions, while new documentaries on current events are encouraged and welcomed in the archive.
Contextual analysis and programme
The initial brief was to design a local cinema that would work as an archive for past and present everyday life stories. A cinema that would belong to the locals and would be focusing on a particular characteristic of the city’s history. Through local media, monthly magazines, forums and old documentaries, my research lead me to the strong relationship of the locals with politics. My building, strategically located within the student community and the most important civil and public buildings of the city, would act as a place for motivation and organisation of activists.
Placed within the strong political background of Sheffield, it would be an active building through which locals and students would be educated about past events, learn what is happening at the moment on a political level in the city, and be able to express their views and get active.
The programme includes a cinema, an archive, exhibition area, a library, offices and workshops. A strong consideration is given to the gradual development of political awareness of the visitors; education and continued learning are the best weapons for a more socially equal world. The building was design to regenerate the area and get the local community on the move. This concept of action and movement was incorporated in its form.
architectural portfolio | roubini hadjicosti 