With its ethnically very diverse and fragmented population, the Austin Estate is local authority housing estate, a “closed city”within Hayes with limited physical connections to the town centre.

 

Projects reflected on the estate’s civic life and explored the notion of a“town hall” for the estate. They started with the construction of a mobile Work Shop to explore social enterprise potentials, a series of events and other 1:1 installations brought together the residents to get to know each other and participate in several new activities. Some of these, like the Austin Sewing Club, are now run by the community, and have received substantial financial support.
 

Other proposals for new civic spaces on the estate were developed as spaces to attract other residents from Hayes to the estate.Project were facilitated and supported by Hillingdon Play Association, and Housing Services at LB Hillingdon.