Environmental House of Vans findings Overall Learning outcomes

Qualities Result
(Positive/
Negative)
Economic  House of Vans does not sell anything Mostly A place free for the community
Vitality  visiting is free for the public offering exhibitions and movie screenings Positive requires more external money to
sustain the place and still bring
 free entry during the week - helps promote local skateboarding sponsors and
people in. A place free for the
help with growing a community of media, marketing and advertising for local community is bound to increase the
artists. (Vizard et al., 2014) number of users and therefore the
 to maintain itself, it needs profit which can only be generated from the Café profits. The cons and pros go hand
shop, Music events and profit from the hidden advertising of Vans of the Wall in hand for this category.
as a skateboarding brand. This can mean that on not so popular months, the
profit decreases and the maintenance costs cannot be covered.
 The free events, on the other side, bring more people in, which falls on the
cultural coexistence.
Cultural  Skatepark nature: People from all backgrounds and cultures are invited to Positive A skatepark is non-racial, invites
Coexistence House of Vans people of all backgrounds in due to
its nature, this is why it is important
 film screenings, cultural and art events, music concerts, etc. - take place in
to have skateparks with different
House of Vans not only for the skateboarders, but for bringing people area in order to boost the cultural
together. coexistence.
 Parents bring their children, children bring friends, skateboarders will bring Sports will always attract people –
other skateboarders and so on. be it skateboarding or anything else.
Health and  A sports facility - it promotes sports for future generations by having teaching Positive Sports will always attract people –
Wellbeing professionals on the premises. In, the cultural & workshop events help the be it skateboarding or anything else.
visitors engage with different activities, detaching from the busy life of the Parents bring their children,
children bring friends,
city. skateboarders will bring other
skateboarders and so on.
Access and House of Vans is a 4-minute walk from Waterloo station. People and Negative Parking is very important for a skate
Movement skateboarders, if not residents of the area, take the underground to get there. building that gives more to the
As the site from Waterloo to House of Vans is sloped, it is an enjoyable journey community than just skateboarding.
for the skateboarder. For people, not so much, since it is a “back alley” type of Access should be made clear and
area, there is not much to see apart from bits and bobs of the old industrial inviting so that resident are curious
London – vaults, abandoned buildings, etc. However, the hidden entrance of enough to enter it.
House of Vans might scare people away or even not inspire interest. The reason
behind a not so imposing entrance was that of making the whole concept feel It is important for the facility to be
placed in an accessible site that can
like a secret. It is hidden to make a community out of the nearby inhabitants of be easily reached from nearby
Waterloo and all skateboarders across London. It is a skatepark after all and all stations since most of the
things popular lose their true meaning after a while. However, it could have skateboarders and users can come
benefited more from a more vibrant and inviting design, that would increase the from other corners of the city. The
curiosity of passersby (ergo the residents of Waterloo) and determine them to journey to the place should be
pleasant for both skateboarders and
come in. A bigger sign, perhaps, or another neon billboard that would be general public so that it creates a
connected to the light play from the inside. In addition, as House of Vans is only unique atmosphere from start to
taking place within the tunnels, a seating arrangement outside (connected to end.
the cafe maybe) would have granted people an outdoor experience as well.
That is also because there is not enough seating arrangement in House of Vans,
therefore the only way people can sit down is by going in the cafe space. More
seating should be provided in the Vans Museum, the exhibition space and even
the skatepark for people waiting for their turn to skate. Another down part of
House of Vans is the absence of a parking space nearby.
Place Identity House of Vans is advertised as being the iconic skatepark of London. Indeed, the Positive A disused building that is reborn
station approach road is not much entertainment for anything else but House of through other unique uses of the
Vans and The Vaults club, connected by Leake Street. site can become an iconic landmark
for the area it sits in
Community Activities such as film screening, raising awareness events (Blue dot foundation Positive Mixing activities in a skate park can
Cohesion – Why oceans matter, 2018), local artists exhibition, break through music artists, benefit the place by bringing the
music concerts (popular bands like Metallica, Royal Blood and Foo Fighters), DYI community together into doing
workshops (create your Vans t-shirt – for example) – they are all created for the enjoyable things
community to come and enjoy their time spent at House of Vans.