Dalston Square Community Space, 2026

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Dalston Square Community Space, 2026

Community space hosting a temporary exhibition

The existing space with additions highlighted in blue

Dalston Square Community Space, 2026

Info

Location

Hackney

Client

London Borough of Hackney

Type

Community, Cultural

Role

Architect, Design Team lead

Architect's team

Roy Coupland, Ya Ya Chen

Appointed by the London Borough of Hackney, RC/YYC worked with an empty retail unit on Dalston Square to provide a multi-functional community space and cultural hub.

The scheme reflects our practice approach of treading lightly and retaining as much of the found space as possible, making sensitive interventions where needed. Exposing our use of proprietary systems and simple construction techniques reflects the space’s changing use over time and encourages future modifications to meet new needs as they evolve over time.

The unit previously hosted a cafe and bakery and retains spot lighting, a commercial stainless steel worktop and sinks and the HVAC system from its previous occupier. Working with these found items and the exposed concrete in the space, our proposal leans into this sparse and utilitarian aesthetic, simply proposing a concealed storage cupboard and partition wall which frees up the majority of the unit to be used as exhibition space.

We are working closely with Hackney’s Sustainability Team from RIBA Stage 2 through to completion, maximising opportunities for material re-use from other projects in the borough as well as those found in the unit with the aim of minimising the project’s embodied carbon.

The unit is set to open in the autumn of 2026 and host community-led cultural exhibitions and events.

Community space set up for a meeting

Community space ready to welcome a new use

Community space used for meetings

The space set up to host screenings

Location

Hackney

Client

London Borough of Hackney

Type

Community, Cultural

Role

Architect, Design Team lead

Architect's team

Roy Coupland, Ya Ya Chen

Testing landscape image

21 July 2026

Testing testing

Ya Ya Chen awarded 2025 Young Talent award at Inspire Future Generations event

03 June 2026

We are pleased to announce that Ya Ya Chen, co-founder of RC/YYC, has won the Young Talent Award at the Inspire Future Generations Awards 2025.

The judging panel recognised Ya Ya’s commitment to long-term, strategic youth engagement through RC/YYC’s projects, as well as her work improving access to architecture as Part 0 Lead at the London School of Architecture. They described her as “an exceptional individual whose impact on young people is helping them gain confidence and access opportunities.”

Ya Ya said: “It’s a real privilege to be acknowledged by such a fantastic panel of judges for work that supports a more equitable built environment through RC/YYC and improves access to built environment professions through LSA’s Part 0 programmes.”

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06 May 2026

This form of engagement can help maximise the learning opportunities that large projects generate and embed meaningful co-design opportunites that help such projects reflect the unique characteristics of the places in which they are situated.

News title News title News title News title News title News title News title News title

05 May 2026

This form of engagement can help maximise the learning opportunities that large projects generate and embed meaningful co-design opportunites that help such projects reflect the unique characteristics of the places in which they are situated.

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RC | YYC was established in 2023 by Roy Coupland and Ya Ya Chen, following experience gained at a number of internationally renowned practices delivering large cultural projects and sensitive restoration schemes. RC/YYC draws on Roy and Ya Ya’s extensive experience of working with local authorities, charities and community groups and delivering projects working with existing buildings.

Fundamental to the practice’s working method is close collaboration with craftspeople and makers, championing local people, skills and material. In each project we work closely with the client to help develop the brief, business case and funding applications and coordinate procurement and construction on site where necessary.

Previously, Roy has worked at Herzog & de Meuron, David Chipperfield Architects and Niall McLaughlin Architects. He has gained experience on a variety of projects, ranging from M+ Museum in Hong Kong, through to private residential schemes in the UK. Ya Ya has worked at a range of practices, including Bjarke Ingels Group, Niall McLaughlin Architects and Witherford Watson Mann where she developed an expertise of working with historic buildings through projects such as Courtauld Institute of Art and Seaborough Court.

Together, Roy and Ya Ya teach at the London School of Architecture, leading on the award-winning access and outreach initiative, Part 0. They develop and deliver three courses working with 11-19 year olds from backgrounds that are under-served and under-represented, with the ambition of creating a more accessible and diverse built environment sector.

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