People · Podcast guest
Mark Sciberras
Founder · Common Ground Workshop
Mark Sciberras is the founder of Common Ground Workshop, an architecture practice and community cafe in Bethnal Green, East London.
- Current role
- Founder
- Practice
- Common Ground Workshop
- Location
- Bethnal Green, London
- On the podcast
- 1 episode · 2023
The story so far
The path behind Mark's work.
Mark Sciberras is the founder of Common Ground Workshop, an architecture practice in Bethnal Green, East London, which he established in 2014. Originally from Melbourne and trained in architecture in Brisbane, Mark set out to run a commercial business alongside a design studio, and built the practice around a hybrid model that sits within a community café, The Common E2, on Old Bethnal Green Road.
Alongside the studio, Mark has developed a portfolio that spans residential, commercial and hospitality work, and a development arm, Common Ground Developments, through which he has acted as both architect and developer. Projects include a warehouse-to-house conversion in South East London and a series of café, bar and fit-out schemes in East London. His approach puts community, collaboration and entrepreneurial thinking at the centre of how the practice operates.
Episode 0179 · Architecture Social · 41:22
From Blueprints to Lattes: Serving the Community ft. Common Ground Workshop
Community practice can mean more than designing buildings. Sometimes it means running spaces, taking commercial risk and staying close to the people who use the work every day.
Inside the conversation
6 moments to start with- 01
00:00 · Introduction to Common Ground Workshop
- 02
05:00 · Starting the practice and how the cafe came about
- 03
10:00 · Projects, community work and Common Ground Workshop's approach
- 04
15:00 · Running a cafe alongside an architecture practice
- 05
20:00 · Acting as developer, client and architect
- 06
25:00 · Solving practical building problems and making spaces work
Profile in brief
The work and context behind Mark's conversation.
- Current role
- Founder
- Practice
- Common Ground Workshop
- Location
- Bethnal Green, London
Continue exploring
Meet the practice behind the work.
Common Ground Workshop is an architecture studio (established in 2014) with a unique vision for professional practice that puts collaborations between clients, end users, communities and industry professionals at the heart of everything we do. Situated within a hybrid workspace, café and art’s space called ‘The…
- Greater London
- Residential
- Hospitality
- Mixed-Use
Podcast · moments that play
Start where the idea starts.
- 05:00Mark Sciberras · Audio onlyListen from 05:00 in the full episode.
Starting the practice and how the cafe came about
- 10:00Mark Sciberras · Audio onlyListen from 10:00 in the full episode.
Projects, community work and Common Ground Workshop's approach
- 15:00Mark Sciberras · Audio onlyListen from 15:00 in the full episode.
Running a cafe alongside an architecture practice
- 20:00Mark Sciberras · Audio onlyListen from 20:00 in the full episode.
Acting as developer, client and architect
- 25:00Mark Sciberras · Audio onlyListen from 25:00 in the full episode.
Solving practical building problems and making spaces work
- 30:00Mark Sciberras · Audio onlyListen from 30:00 in the full episode.
Studio life, project types and daily practice pressures
Selected work from Common Ground Workshop
Three projects, one connected practice.
A closer look at the practice’s work
The Common E2
A completed hybrid cafe, retail, gallery and workspace hub in Bethnal Green that is also home to Common Ground Workshop.
View project →Nebula, London City Island
A former restaurant and grocery store reworked as a flexible cafe, bar, restaurant, workspace and community lounge by the River Lea.
View project →Lloyd Eist House
A mid-century storage warehouse in Camberwell refurbished and extended into an adaptable three-storey family home.
View project →