Gulaab Studios is a creative workspace and community-led regeneration project on Whitehall Place in Forest Gate, East London.
The project will provide affordable workspace for artists, makers, designers, photographers, creative freelancers and community organisations, while helping to transform a long-overlooked back road into a safer, greener and more active part of the neighbourhood.
The spaces have been shaped through conversations with potential users, with an emphasis on natural light, robust materials, flexibility and a strong connection to the courtyard.
The name Gulaab, meaning rose, was inspired by Tupac Shakur’s poem The Rose That Grew from Concrete. It reflects the spirit of both the project and its setting: the belief that beauty, creativity and opportunity can grow from overlooked places.
Working with Loader Monteith Architects, Forest Gate Community School, local creatives, residents, businesses and Newham Council, Gulaab Studios aims to show how small-scale, locally led development can create lasting social, cultural and civic value.
More than a workspace, Gulaab Studios is a home for Forest Gate’s creative community and the first step in a wider transformation of Whitehall Place.
Year
2026
Type
Artist Studios
Status
On-site
Location
Forest Gate, London
Size
300sqm