A House for New England
Commissioned as research by the Major Projects and Regeneration Team of Brighton and Hove City Council.
We produced:
A documentary film A House for New England about the community of residents in the building.
The trailer is above, you can see excerpts on this page and the full film is at the bottom of the page
A portfolio of assets including photographs and extended one-to-one interviews
Screenings and discussions on and off site of A House for New England. These screenings were attended by stakeholders:the council’s Head of Architecture and Design, the developer, the urban planning team, the Head of Culture and Business Brighton and Hove, local councillors, residents of New England House and the public. The film continues to be screened at film festivals.
We were commissioned to research the community and culture of New England House, home to 900 people working in over a 120 creative businesses.
New England House is an 8 storey industrial building owned and managed by Brighton and Hove City Council.
Designed by Percy Billington in 1963 this vertical factory was purpose built for light engineering and manufacturing.
Collaborative film projects made with communities about place
Each film we make is the result of a methodology emerging through the life of a project from a community and a space.
It’s about the people and the way they produce the site
Having a visible presence in and around the building across different working cycles, New England House is open for 24 hours.
Being curious
Hiring from businesses in the building and filming interviews in business premises.
Acknowledging a residents association with concerns and agendas while also seeking out other voices
Exploring ideas of making and materials in line with the resident businesses
Developing the aesthetic of film as something produced through another kind of making, one that is recognisably ‘of’ the site. The design of the edit mirrored the buildings architectural design moving viewers around the screen space .
Revealing what is not immediately apparent in a building that is difficult to enter, full of closed doors and from the outside often considered something of an eyesore
Paying attention to materiality in the architectural structure including sensory experience as a material.
Principles that shaped this research
Impact
Hazel Buck, City Regeneration Programme Manager for Brighton and Hove Major Projects and Regeneration commented
In terms of my job - which is to secure the refurbishment of the building and ensure its future in providing affordable workspaces for creatives - I'll be using the film to help promote and raise finance for the project. The more people who see the film the better. It's a real eye opener to those that see it - myself included - on many different levels.
The research uncovered the surprising economic and cultural significance of the businesses housed in the building.
Highlighted a rich mix of nationally and internationally successful creative small businesses and makers spanning light industry, conservation, digital technologies and everything in between
Revealed a generous tenant community operating through a system of mutual support, economic exchange and collaboration across sectors.
Engendered a sense of pride within the resident community, the public and the development team.
Raised the profile of the building, the New England House community and the New England Quarter in the public realm through screenings in different contexts
