HairCycle: Futures of public space - URBAN RADICALS
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HairCycle: Futures of public space, London, 2025

HairCycle: Futures of public space is an urban strategy study for Newham, proposing a family of small-scale architectures that plug into the street. The project is a pilot study which investigates innovative ecosystems for human hair recycling, developed in close partnership with many of Newham’s barber shops.

Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, UKRI, this is a Design Exchange Partnership between University of the Arts London (UAL) and London Borough of Newham. Working alongside material researcher Sanne Visser from UAL, our team investigated the production of low-carbon architectural materials: bricks, tiles, and plaster renders, with hair fibres acting as a reinforcing element. Our research examined how these circular materials could enhance Newham’s built environment, contributing to the borough’s regeneration and sustainability efforts as well as allowing local community groups and residents to engage with the discussion and process of identifying key improvement opportunities and spaces for intervention across Newham.

The drawn proposal is the result of our research, dialogue with key stakeholders and engagement process, forming a family of small-scale adaptable and replicable architectures that plug into the street and which act to bring people together, while encouraging community-led construction and ownership. These include mini versions of buildings: a Mini Museum, a Mini Library and a Street Kitchen as well as Performance Plinths and a Common Room.

By drawing on local knowledge, these interventions can support wider sustainability goals and create lasting social value for Newham’s streets.

1
Learning from the site, vestigial advertising columns found along East Ham high-street. Reference for Mini Museum.
2
Learning from the site: Newham's high-street shop noticeboards/ information exchange. Reference for Mini Library.
3
Learning from the site, East Ham high-street building geometries and colours. Reference for Street Kitchen - Sink.
4
Learning from the site, East Ham pop-up street markets. Reference for Street Kitchen - Grill.

Street kitchen – sink

Mini Museum

Street Kitchen – grill

Mini Library

Co-design workshop at Haircycle organised by U R with Gilles & Cecilie and Sanne Visser.

Brickmaking workshop at Carpenters Estate.

HairCycle: Futures of public space

Type: landscape

Location: Newham, London

Size: 30m2

For: University of the Arts London (UAL) and London Borough of Newham

Status: Design Proposal

Collaborators: Sanne Visser, R-Urban

With thanks to: KOHU, Gilles and Cecilie

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1
Learning from the site, vestigial advertising columns found along East Ham high-street. Reference for Mini Museum.
2
Learning from the site: Newham's high-street shop noticeboards/ information exchange. Reference for Mini Library.
3
Learning from the site, East Ham high-street building geometries and colours. Reference for Street Kitchen - Sink.
4
Learning from the site, East Ham pop-up street markets. Reference for Street Kitchen - Grill.