East Street Arts

"A unique design and community-driven approach."

■ Client

↣ East Street Arts

■ Type

↣ Culture

■ JMA+

↣ Interior design

■ Location

↣ Leeds

We were invited by East Street Arts to provide design and consultancy for the reception space at the heart of their new Art Hostel in Leeds city centre. Working in collaboration with RCA graduate and Leeds University Fellow Akeelah Bertram, our goal was to repurpose a historic building—transforming a traditional structure into an Art Hostel that embodied the transitory nature of a community in constant flux.

To achieve this, we combined Akeelah’s artistic practice with our own approach to social space design, creating an entrance that served as an inviting introduction to the hostel’s ethos. A primary focus of the design was the use of upcycled materials, including acrylic, glass, timber, and metal, to craft a space that felt both sustainable and tactile. Central to the design was the "refraction wall"—a series of refractive sculptures that users could manipulate to cast shifting patterns and pathways of light throughout the room.

Since the project’s completion, the building has been featured in various publications, gaining recognition for its unique design and community-driven approach. The Art Hostel has become a celebrated destination for artists and creatives seeking a space to work, collaborate, and connect.