Spring Gardens: Britain's first tailor-made hostel

The hostel is run by St Mungo's, London's largest charity for homeless people, which houses 1,500 people every night Photograph: Morley von Sternberg/Peter Barber Architects

Most of the bedrooms are identical – simply furnished, with a small ensuite bathroom and a private garden Photograph: Morley von Sternberg/Peter Barber Architects

Communal areas in the hostel are designed as flexible spaces, with double-height ceilings, to accomodate temporary events and workshops Photograph: Morley von Sternberg/Peter Barber Architects

It is hoped that Spring Gardens, which cost £4m, could provide a template for future homeless hostels Photograph: Morley von Sternberg/Peter Barber Architects

Buildings are arranged around manicured gardens, where residents have access to their own space to grow vegetables Photograph: Morley von Sternberg/Peter Barber Architects

A communal eating area widens out to various freestanding elements along the way, including a small library, computer stations, a pool table and giant coloured window frames Photograph: Morley von Sternberg/Peter Barber Architects

Architect Peter Barber has been working with St Mungo's for 15 years and has refurbished and added to the charity's six other properties around the capital, with several more in the pipeline Photograph: Morley von Sternberg/Peter Barber Architects