Ravensbourne University London students propose bold redesigns for iconic community and sports club in Balham
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Students from Ravensbourne University London’s architecture, interiors and landscape courses recently completed a powerful live project in collaboration with the Balham and Tooting Community & Sports Club (BTCSC), a vital hub founded by Windrush pioneers in 1970.
The project, which ran throughout the spring term, saw Ravensbourne’s first year students work closely with the club to explore refurbishment ideas that would preserve its cultural legacy while meeting the evolving needs of the community.
Lorina Mayne quote
What I’ve noticed since I came in is that all these students — they work and collaborate together. No one’s acting like their work is better than anyone else’s. They’re all admiring each other’s ideas and efforts. And for that, I’m very, very proud of them.”
In May, students presented their final proposals to members of BTCSC at a special event held on-site. These ranged from reimagining the club’s restaurant as a vibrant social heart of the building, to adding a new children’s play centre, open-air cinema, and performance stage — all designed to honour the Caribbean roots while expanding its role in the community.
Working under the guidance of Ravensbourne's architecture lecturers, students engaged deeply with BTCSC’s history, which included surveying the building, documenting oral histories from members, and designing thoughtful prototypes that reflected the club’s identity in the heart of south London.
Balham gallery
Alberto quote
What’s been amazing is seeing just how high the level of work is — for first-year students, some of the outcomes have been incredibly impressive. Our vision is that, in three years’ time, one of our students could walk past this building and see that it’s been refurbished — using ideas they helped create. That’s incredibly powerful. It’s a way of giving students a real sense of purpose and impact, while also supporting a community with deep cultural roots.”
BTCSC was originally founded by 18 members — many of whom had served in the RAF — and community leaders from the Windrush Generation. For more than 50 years, it has provided social, cultural and welfare support to local residents — from sports and cooking to storytelling and community events. However, the building is now in need of investment and reimagining to remain fit for purpose.
The final proposals, which were presented directly to club members and trustees, offered creative and respectful ideas for restoring the building’s functionality, accessibility, and symbolic importance.
At Ravensbourne, we use our resources — our courses, our connections, and our local community to equip students with the skills that industry tell us they need.
To find out more about our architecture, interiors and landscape courses, visit our course page.
