Blueprint of a building with multiple elevations labeled A, B, and C. The blueprint includes measurements and labels for windows, doors, walls, and structural elements such as brick, column, and chimney. The background is dark blue with white lines and text.

Arragon Road Boxing Club

Justifying the Worth of a Derelict Community Centre

Location: London
Architect: Synergy Property Consultants
Budget: N/A
Feasibility & Survey

The Arragon Road Community Hall, a historic building constructed in 1912, served the community for almost a century until it fell into disuse in the early 2000s.

The building suffered significant damage over time, with a damaged roof and nature infiltrating the structure in various ways. The walls were affected by rising damp, and dry rot had taken hold, with large fruiting bodies present.

The building's construction featured masonry walls, a steel trussed main hall, and side halls and rooms roofed with an innovative form of expanded mesh reinforced concrete.

Although the building's condition had deteriorated significantly, it was not beyond repair. Initially scheduled for demolition, a contractor has now been appointed to transform the building into a community boxing club, giving it a new lease of life. Newham Council has also taken up the challenge of the Climate Emergency, recognising the importance of refurbishing existing structures, and has committed to restoring this once-proud building.

The project to bring the Arragon Road Community Hall back into use is expected to be completed by 2024. The restoration effort will involve significant work, but the building's historical significance and potential to serve the community once again make it a worthwhile undertaking.

Abandoned and damaged bathroom with a fallen air conditioning unit, debris on the floor, and exposed pipes, with a yellow wall visible through the doorway.
Interior of a dilapidated building with peeling paint, broken walls, debris on the floor, and an exposed roof with glass blocks. There are random objects like chairs, a cart, and construction materials scattered around.
An old, abandoned room with peeling wallpaper, cracked walls, and debris on the floor. A lone wooden chair with a cushioned seat is placed in the center of the room, with torn wallpaper and dirt surrounding it.
Interior of a damaged building with a large hole in the brick wall and a partially missing window. Debris and dirt cover the floor, and an open doorway reveals a room with a bright orange door and some furniture.
Interior view of a building under construction, showing an arched ceiling, scaffolding, and a large multi-pane window letting in natural light.
Construction site with open doors leading outside, exposed brick walls with peeling paint, a partially covered table, and various construction tools and debris scattered on the ground.
Interior of a building under renovation with exposed brick walls, peeling paint, and construction wires.

“The walls were affected by rising damp, and dry rot had taken hold, with large fruiting bodies present.”

A damaged indoor floor area exposing broken tiles, dirt, and roots, with a green sign partially visible on the wall and a brown worn-out sofa in the foreground.
A wheelchair in a dilapidated building with peeling paint, exposed brick walls, and scattered debris on the floor.
An abandoned indoor space with peeling paint, old furniture, and debris on the floor. There are two worn couches and a red chair, with a small round table in front. The background has a deteriorated wall with torn posters and a partially boarded-up window.
An abandoned wheelchair is in a cluttered room with a yellowish wall and peeling paint, next to a broken wooden chair and debris on the floor.
A room with peeling paint on the walls, exposing plaster and old wallpaper, a broken ventilation fan hanging on the wall, and some electrical wiring and switches. The floor and some parts of the wall are damaged with dirt and debris.

“Newham Council has also taken up the challenge of the Climate Emergency, recognising the importance of refurbishing existing structures.”

Closed window with overgrown dry brown and green vines and leaves outside, possibly in an old or abandoned building.
A dilapidated room with peeling walls, debris on the floor, a broken yellow wooden door, and an old black television.
A dilapidated and abandoned room with peeling yellowish walls, cluttered with broken and rusty objects including an old wheelbarrow and a large stone basin, and scattered debris on the floor.
An underground basement with exposed brick walls and ceiling, showing pipes, ductwork, and insulation. There are some electrical components and debris on the floor, along with a small graffiti tag on the brick wall.
Construction site with damaged drywall, exposed wood, rubble, and spilled substance resembling caramel or glue on the floor.