Ealing Libraries
Freehaus were appointed by Ealing Council to reimagine and enhance existing spaces within three libraries: Southall, Northolt and the Grade II listed Acton Library, to create innovative Community Hub spaces and greater flexibility of use overall.
Community Hubs are spaces within Ealing libraries that are envisioned to provide a wide range of council support services, community, cultural, and enterprise uses, to meet the expansive needs of Ealing residents. Ealing Council is using UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) funding to deliver these improvements.
Southall Library is situated in the Dominion Centre, an existing former cinema, where the project aims to create new spaces including: meeting rooms, study space, workspace and areas for exhibition display and community notices. A new Customer Service Point will operate in this new space and when not in use, can be used by the library and other council or community services.
The Northolt and Acton Community Hub projects are intended to be light-touch interventions which make use of a ‘kit of parts', which can be repeated and deployed in both libraries. The project assesses the existing spatial arrangement within each library and makes recommendations to enhance their layouts for daytime uses and evening activities.
The 'kit of parts' are intended to be moveable and adaptable to increase flexibility in the libraries and will include fixed and loose furniture, stages, new book shelving and reception desks. The improved Community Hubs will optimise the public-facing Customer Service Point of Ealing Council and will promote culture and enterprise in the borough by providing space for exhibition, performances and bookable workspace for local businesses.
Freehaus have developed proposals through engagement with Council stakeholders, online surveys and public consultation events for each of the three libraries. The application of the kit of parts for each library was then developed in close collaboration with the in-house Project Delivery Unit at Ealing Council, alongside local community fabricators POW who refined the components using standardized details and assembly techniques.
The three libraries opened in April 2025 with expanded community services and a flexibility of uses to ensure that these important civic spaces continue to meet the needs of local residents.
Tags: Community, Education, Culture
The Existing Libraries: Southall, Acton and Northolt.
Visual for Acton Library
Working studies for the Southall Community Hub
