SPIRITUAL HAVEN AND LAVENDER LAWN
by Malak Shaimaa Halibi
This year our studio focused on the theme ‘homeless’ which has played a big part in my proposal as it is designed specifically for the homeless people of Brick Lane. ‘Spiritual Haven’, an environment where the homeless people have somewhere to sleep but also an environment where they can relax by doing breathing exercises and meditation before they go to sleep. I have also designed a garden, ‘Lavender Lawn’ where lavender grows and is then made into lavender essential oil by the homeless people. On the other side of Lavender Lawn, there is a two-storey public garden with seating areas surrounded by plants on the ground floor and a lavender gallery on the first floor where lavender essential oil and dried lavender are sold. The refectory is where the homeless people gather to eat their meals throughout the day together with the view of growing lavender lawn. The intention of the proposal is not to only give the homeless people of Brick Lane somewhere to sleep and eat, but somewhere where they can plant, grow and make lavender essential oil;which they will then use and sell, allowing them to also form their own community.