Last weekend saw the opening of Pop Brixton, London’s newest container park. The opening event on Friday night allowed the public a first glimpse at what’s inside, we went along to explore.

Commissioned by Lambeth council in May 2014 Pop Brixton was designed and developed by Carl Turner Architects who are know for their high impact, low cost architecture. They worked in collaboration with The Collective to make this community container park reality.

Originally named ‘Grow Brixton’ the park has developed from a public garden to a small scale business park. Pop Brixton is described as a ‘community campus for start-ups’ and more that a hangout area, the low cost rental containers provide investment opportunities for small business and local entrepreneurs providing flexible studio, retail, office and workshop space in one of London’s most vibrant communities. The development is created from low-cost, low-energy, shipping containers, and has a focus on sustainability and efficiency.

The recycled shipping containers are stacked 5 high in some areas, and even though most of the upper levels are still to be kitted out, there are some great company’s emerging in the finished boxes. Unique food stalls along side vintage clothing shops and retro stores. Inside There is also a sheltered events space for installation art, music, concerts or buskers and there is also a giant poly-tunnel with space to be developed into a public garden.

Eley Kishimoto a fashion and surface pattern design studio based in London, have worked to liven up the exterior of the containers using vibrant, patterned wallpaper and various artists have decorated the area with graffiti and street art.