Reimagining 129 Water Lane: A New Chapter for Seagulls

At PARKdesigned, we believe in the power of thoughtful architecture to support community-driven change. That’s why we’re delighted to be working alongside Seagulls Reuse to help bring their ambitious vision for the Circular Innovation Hub at 129 Water Lane, Leeds, to life.

Seagulls has long been a force for good in the city — championing sustainability, creative reuse, and inclusive learning. Their existing premises in Holbeck already serve as a lively centre for environmental activity, but with growing demand and a dynamic programme of workshops and community initiatives, the time is right to evolve and expand.

Our proposal focuses on revitalising the building’s underused front-facing areas. By unlocking the potential of this prominent part of the site, we aim to create a space that is as open and welcoming as the Seagulls team themselves.

At Ground Level: A Place to Gather

The ground floor will house the new Seagulls Café — a warm and vibrant social space serving locally sourced refreshments. More than just a café, it’s intended as a community anchor: a relaxed environment where visitors can meet, talk, and engage with Seagulls’ ethos. Informal seating, reclaimed materials, and bursts of colour will reflect the creativity that defines the organisation, all while strengthening its street presence and accessibility.

Above the Café: A Hub for Innovation and Collaboration

The first floor will become the beating heart of the Circular Innovation Hub — a flexible collaboration space designed to accommodate everything from artist workshops and skills training to startup incubation and project co-working. With reconfigurable layouts, shared workbenches, and digital tools, the space will nurture community-led problem solving. Crucially, it will promote the circular economy not just in theory, but through practice, making space for experimentation, making, and mending.

We have approached this design not as an architectural statement, but as a framework for growth — enabling Seagulls to do more of what they do best: empower people, foster creativity, and create environmental impact at a local level.

Designing with, not just foR……..

Working with Seagulls has been a pleasure. Their team brings not only passion but real expertise in sustainability and social enterprise. This project is a genuine collaboration — a process of listening, learning, and jointly shaping ideas into spaces that are useful, beautiful, and lasting.

We’re proud to be a small part of a much bigger story — one that proves how underutilised buildings can be transformed into engines of innovation and inclusion.

As the vision for the Circular Innovation Hub moves towards reality, we’re excited to see how 129 Water Lane will evolve into a beacon of creativity and community resilience in Leeds.