The Cooperative "Catkomfin"
2012
"Catkomfin" derives from the combination of "Catford" and "Narkomfin," alluding to socialist experiments in communal living.
This study addresses the preservation and development of the multifunctional complex, a legacy of the 1970s, known as the Catford Centre, designed by Owen Luder. It systematically examines and extrapolates events from 2011 to 2012 pertaining to the Catford Centre and the Lewisham borough.
The Lewisham Borough Council, after acquiring the complex, resolved to maintain its existing structure and establish a cooperative community of local residents with an autonomous management system. The cooperative, in turn, assumes responsibility for the operation of the new communal campus. This communal estate predominantly occupies the space of an abandoned car park, thereby becoming a vital vertical link between residential buildings and commercial areas.
The scheme envisions and incorporates a large communal dining hall – the heart and hub of social exchange, communal offices, a reading room, nurseries, and a playground, as well as a series of open public spaces and gardens. The cooperative aims to accumulate social, cultural, and financial benefits for the entire borough.
Author: Mikheil Mikadze