About
About New Windows on Willesden Green
New Windows on Willesden Green is one of the Mayor’s Outer London Fund projects, which is being delivered for Brent Council and Design for London by The Architecture Foundation in collaboration with Meanwhile Space and Blue Consulting. This project is an exciting opportunity to revive and improve Willesden High Road bringing positive change to the area.
In 2012 the project’s focus has been the reactivation of empty premises along the High Road. In January, we invited fledgeling businesses, projects and individuals to submit their expressions of interest in occupying a vacant unit in a former textiles building in Queens Parade on Willesden Lane, that became available to the project at the beginning of the year. We had a fantastic response and subsequently invited the most suitable proposals to pitch their ideas to us. Thirteen successful businesses and projects moved into the premises in March. Please visit our Vacant Shops page to find out more.
For the project’s first phase, which ran from October to December 2011, a curated series of window animations was installed along Walm Lane and the High Road marking the 25 days leading up to Christmas. Local shopowners were paired with emerging designers to produce an advent calendar of window displays with a new Willesden window opening each day. A series of events attracting new visitors to Willesden was held on 17-18 December 2011 and the project’s pilot shop – a previously empty unit activated for ‘meanwhile’ use – opened to the public, acting as the project’s drop-in information point.
Following the reactivation and re-design of the pilot shop, it became a more attractive proposition and has now been leased by a commercial tenant, having been vacant for several months.
About Willesden Green
Willesden Green is situated in the south east of the borough of Brent and is approximately 0.6 square miles in size. At its heart lies Willesden High Road, home to a variety of local shops as well as the Willesden Green Library Centre, which houses a library, the Brent museum and archive and an independent bookshop. Willesden Green’s designated town centre boundary essentially demarcates a linear town centre, stretching from Willesden Green underground station in the east to Villiers Road in the west.
For more historical information on Willesden Green please visit: http://www.brent.gov.uk/museumarchive.nsf/Pages/LBB-29
Supported by
Brent Council
The London Borough of Brent is a London borough in North-West London, UK and forms part of Outer London.
The Outer London Fund
The Outer London Fund, launched by the Mayor on 13 June 2011, is a three-year initiative dedicated to strengthening the vibrancy and growth of high streets and their environs.
Design For London
Design for London is a design resource for London, working on behalf of the Mayor of London. The main focus of its work is supporting boroughs, other local players, and project deliverers to shape a better city.
Delivered by
The Architecture Foundation
The Architecture Foundation is a non-profit agency for contemporary architecture, urbanism and culture.
Meanwhile Space
Meanwhile Space is a Community Interest Company that aims to boost community uses of empty properties and sites.
Blue Consulting
Blue Consulting specialises in town centre revitalisation and renewal, marketing and branding, PR, and property development.
