Civic Trust Finalist
The Sound Shell at the core of the space provides an informal stage for musicians, creating opportunities for emerging talent to perform and potentially take their first steps toward larger stages, like Wembley Arena or Stadium. Its design reflects Wembley’s iconic arch, linking the smallest and largest stages within the area.
The Sound Shell’s unique geometry - a conical structure inspired by a megaphone projects sound naturally toward the audience, eliminating the need for amplification. Its interior acoustics ensure performers can hear each other clearly, fostering ensemble performance. Every detail of the design serves its acoustic purpose, making it as functional as it is visually striking.
We are thrilled to be named a Finalist at the 2025 Civic Trust Pro-Tem Awards, which celebrate temporary structures and installations that enhance the built environment. Our submission features the Samovar Space and Sound Shell as a duo, showcasing as one project designed to enrich its community and the urban fabric.
Samovar Space is the result of a long-term youth engagement initiative, starting with Brent Council's "Seen and Heard" project for the London Borough of Culture and continuing as a legacy project by LSE Cities at the London School of Economics, the "Apprenticeship in City Design." This youth-led vision addresses the strategic location of Wembley Park Square—situated near Sainsbury’s, the Library, Civic Centre, and LDO—making it a vital social hub for meeting, relaxing, and interacting.
The space offers three zones tailored to different ways young adults socialise:
Consume: A casual gathering spot where visitors can enjoy food from nearby outlets.
Collaborate: A playscape designed for young adults to socialize informally, distinct from traditional play areas.
Calm: A public, semi-outdoor living room that brings the comfort of home into the urban environment.
Together, Samovar Space and the Sound Shell exemplify how temporary installations can combine creativity, functionality, and community impact, transforming urban spaces into vibrant cultural hubs. Dr. Julia King, Research Fellow at LSE and Samovar Space programme coordinator said:
“In establishing the Apprenticeship in City Design I wanted to think of a method for engaging with young people that could be sustained over a long period of time taking a project from conception through to completion; and in doing so give young people the tools to research their own experiences, inform design processes and have a voice in planning and development. The COVID-19 pandemic has drawn greater attention to how important it is to have just and inclusive public space but if young people are absent from the design, decision-making and planning process, how can we ensure that spaces are truly for them. It has been a great privilege to work with this group of young people who have shown that when local young people are included, they can easily articulate their unmet needs. We have also found that in designing-in young people we have ended up designing-in a lot of other groups which is evident when you go to Samovar Space and see so many demographics using the space in a range of ways.”