Fargo Creative Village

Coventry

BPN Architects have been commissioned to refurbish the buildings on Far Gosford Street Industrial Estate in Coventry, to be called FarGo. This joint venture between Advantage West Midlands and Complex Development Projects will be developed into a creative village to include a vibrant mix of uses such as a marketplace; independent retail; designer-maker and artists studios; gallery; live music and bar and performance space.

The development is being seen as a major driver for economic change in this Regeneration Area and will provide a low-cost base for small creative enterprises and artists.  The concept is not untried, being based on successful projects in other UK cities such as Truman’s Brewery/Brick Lane in London and The Forum, Devonshire Street in Sheffield. Projects start in an edgy alternative almost “anti establishment” guise attracting the raw and the cutting edge. The key to attracting businesses and visitors/customers is the intensive management of the offer to make it truly different and enlivening of the space through animation, which invariable has a high content of visual and performance art and design.