Priyanshi Jain

Here is Priyanshi's final design thesis for a Community cafe in Kingston Upon Thames. The site includes two Grade II listed buildings: the Kingston Museum and Library, along with the adjacent Museum Garden. Despite their historical and architectural value, these buildings are underused, with poor internal conditions, limited accessibility, and disconnected circulation. The Museum Garden, though important for community engagement, remains underutilised. The demolition of the nearby Leisure Centre offers a chance to reimagine the public realm and create a civic square linking the museum, library, and new community spaces. Her proposal revolves around community engagement through cooking, inspired by the Forest School. A pizza oven symbolizes fire in the town centre, while a greenhouse and exhibition space extends from the existing museum and library. Her spatial strategy includes refurbishing the museum and library interiors while preserving their facades. A new extension houses a community cafe, designed to match the scale and materials of the existing buildings. She improved accessibility with a lift and reconfigured circulation. A continuous mosaic floor unifies the public realm, referencing original finishes and guiding movement. The design respects the heritage of the site while introducing contemporary elements that enhances usability and inclusivity.