84 Youth x LOFT | Furnishing a Community Space
How we not only supplied an interior design for a community development organisation, but created a sanctuary through it.
Developer: 84Youth
Development: Amenity Space
Location: Manchester
84Youth was much more than just a design brief for us. It was an opportunity to create a safe space within an often difficult community setting that not only facilitated growth and wellbeing but propelled and actively drove it.
84Youth is a community integrated youth led organisation that provides a supportive sanctuary to youths across the side Moss Side area in Manchester that have been affected be violence and trauma. Established in 2019, 84 Youth is a response to the rise in serious youth violence and perpetual traumatic stress disorder caused by criminal and harmful events within the area.
LOFT began collaborating with the directors of 84Youth since its inception to conceptualise and provide a space that could serve as a sanctuary for young people within a trying area.
At LOFT, we’re no strangers to actively incorporating end-user wellbeing into our designs and interiors. The prospect of supplying and designing a space that could potentially have such a huge impact on the lives of so many was as inspirational as it was invigorating.
84Youth is housed in a LOFT supplied shipping container that has been beautifully repurposed into a social space and a private meeting space. Neutral tones of soft yellows, creams and greys were used within the space promote a calming feeling within while also offering a mature aesthetic to encourage growth. We designed the space to not just create an appearance of a sanctuary, but to be one.
Subtlety throughout our design was important as we did not want to overcrowd the space and make it feel chaotic. As space can be tight within a container, so we ensured every piece of furniture, and every furnishing was contributing as much practically towards the space as it was aesthetically. Activities organised within 84Youth include such things as youth development and training, family therapy sessions and job interview preparation to name a few. 84Youth do an incredible amount of work for young people and families within the community and they now have a valuable asset in this bespoke space to facilitate learning, growth and security within the community.
LOFT is and always has been a People First company and nothing fulfils us more than seeing a space we have created serving such a beneficial purpose for so many people.
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