housing
Owen Williams, 1935
St Mary's Road, SE15 2EE
Grade II* Listed Modernist building, famously described by Walter Gropius as "an oasis of glass in a desert of brick". Originally built to house 'The Peckham Experiment' an innovative health centre in the 1930s. It was converted to private dwellings in 2000, retaining the indoor pool. Join members of our new Community Interest Company set up to mark the centenary and share this unique story.
Canada Water
New Cross Gate, Queen's Road Peckham
36, 78, 136, 436, 171, 177, P12, P13
The Pioneer Centre is on St Mary's Road, a few minutes walk from Queens Road Peckham. Nunhead Station is a ten minute walk away to the north
There is a lift to the pool level. The apartment featuring the exhibition is ground floor and has step free access. Free street parking.
A community proud of the buildings history. We will show visitors the key spaces and an engaging exhibition hosted by experts on the history
This year marks the Centenary of the Peckham Experiment, a world famous investigation into health which was based in the Pioneer Centre. Here a unique research programme into health and well-being was explored in innovative and ground-breaking ways. Take the chance to visit the building to be shown around by some of the passionate resident community. There will be an exhibition on the history of the building including films and photography. There will be opportunity to meet with members of the legacy organisation to learn more about the Peckham Experiment and to talk about health and well-being in the 2026. The exhibition will also feature some reproduction furniture designed by Christopher (Kit) Nicolson.
Members of the new resident organised legacy organisation (Peckham Experiment Community Interest Company) will lead tours and host an exhibition to explain the story of the building from its early days to today. Ahead of a new website being launched as part of the Centenary we are keen to engage with people about the history and talk about what the lessons of the Peckham Experiment and Pioneer Centre mean for the future.
