{"id":770085,"date":"2025-02-11T10:57:32","date_gmt":"2025-02-11T10:57:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/?p=770085"},"modified":"2025-02-11T12:35:58","modified_gmt":"2025-02-11T12:35:58","slug":"feixmerlin-restores-walworth-town-hall-as-community-hub","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/buildings\/feixmerlin-restores-walworth-town-hall-as-community-hub","title":{"rendered":"Feix&Merlin restores Walworth Town Hall as community hub"},"content":{"rendered":"

The town hall, which was on\u00a0Historic England\u2019s Heritage at Risk register, has reopened after developer General Projects, in collaboration with Southwark Council, took on the fire-damaged building, which has been central to the local community since 1894.<\/p>\n

The site covers the former town hall, the adjoining Newington Library and the Cuming Museum. The restored building offers workspaces for over 550 people across flexible offices and coworking desks. Public spaces include a community centre and a caf\u00e9 and pan-Asian restaurant within the central lobby.<\/p>\n

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A new grand staircase and ground-floor entrance on Walworth Square provide a civic face for the building and tie it into the wider area with links to Sayer Street and the wider Elephant and Castle redevelopment. Feix & Merlin\u2019s design combines elements of old and new, referencing the town hall\u2019s 19th-century architecture while introducing modern features using cross-laminated timber (CLT) to replace sections damaged by the fire.<\/p>\n

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The former council chamber, which was severely damaged, now features a carefully reconstructed vaulted ceiling made of CLT, reinterpreting the original design. The new structure includes a triple-height space framed by a metal balustrade with a perforated pattern echoing the decorative details of the original railing.<\/p>\n

CLT is also used prominently in the ground-floor caf\u00e9 and lobby, where damaged walls have been removed to create an open-plan space with a timber ceiling and arched timber columns. Some of the building\u2019s original oak floors were preserved, while new herringbone parquet floors have been installed in places. Walls have been sanded, re-rendered and repainted below the dado-line, but left exposed above to reveal the building’s history.<\/p>\n

The ground-floor community centre consists of three flexible rooms accommodating various uses. These will be overseen by the Walworth Town Hall Community Space Board, a non-profit organisation comprising local residents, youth representatives, council members, and General Projects\u2019 dedicated management arm General People.<\/p>\n

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\n

Architect\u2019s view<\/h2>\n

As architects, our role often involves creating transformational change, and it\u2019s true that Walworth Town Hall has undergone a remarkable rebirth. But in this case, much of our work was about knowing where and when to hold back, allowing the building to guide us and reveal what was needed.<\/p>\n

Bold moves were required \u2013 epitomised in our reinvention of the former debating chamber into a stunning, light-filled voluminous space, while carefully restoring its historical features to their original splendour. In its restoration, the windows and wall finishes have been lovingly restored and a mezzanine added with a contemporary perforated balustrade, designed to echo the decorative details of the historic railing that used to frame the public viewing gallery. The new exposed CLT and glulam roof structure creates a soaring triple-height volume with a specialist light feature at its center.<\/p>\n

Where new structural interventions were required, we prioritised sustainability in order to align the building\u2019s future with modern standards; our refurbishment is guided by the principle that all structural and architectural interventions are executed in timber. This approach importantly also introduces a space that excels in enhancing occupants’ wellbeing.<\/p>\n

Timber\u2019s alignment with biophilic design principles taps into our innate connection to nature, nurturing health and wellbeing while improving indoor air quality. Its natural aesthetic reduces stress and promotes relaxation, ultimately benefitting the mental and physical health of users and enhancing productivity.<\/p>\n

Key to our design language throughout is the deliberate reference to the building\u2019s history, including a celebration of its \u2018scars\u2019 and damage from the fire. While a handful of spaces were restored in a traditional and scholarly manner, the majority were refurbished with a \u2018light-touch\u2019 approach. These areas retain their battle-worn character (cleaned up and made safe, of course), with floors and walls restored only up to the lower dado level. Changes in materials, such as the microcement infills in the timber parquet for example, subtly reference the layout of the original walls and structures that were removed. Achieving the right balance between sensitive restoration and contemporary intervention was key to the project\u2019s success.<\/p>\n

It is a true privilege to work on buildings like this, and seeing people return to this iconic space after more than a decade \u2013 ushering in a new era for its future \u2013 is incredibly rewarding. Walworth Town Hall now stands as a testament to its rich past and a beacon of possibility for what lies ahead.
\nJulia Feix, founding partner, Feix and Merlin<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\n

Client\u2019s view<\/h2>\n

We approached this project with a vision for developing a new blueprint for bringing at-risk municipal landmarks back to life. Now restored to its former glory and formally removed from Historic England\u2019s Heritage at Risk register, Walworth Town Hall has been given back to a new generation with an exciting new purpose, made viable and fit for modern standards.<\/p>\n

In partnership with Southwark Council, and closely collaborating with Historic England and local community groups, we worked with Feix&Merlin to deliver a sensitive but impactful design approach.<\/p>\n

Our vision was that the building\u2019s legacy should be revealed rather than erased. The result strikes a careful balance between celebrating its inherited state and adapting it to modern use, combining elements of old and new by making sympathetic references to the town hall\u2019s beautiful 19th-century architecture. Distinctly modern features, like the use of CLT to replace sections of the building damaged by the 2013 fire, are a reflective and contemporary interpretation of the original design.<\/p>\n

Elephant and Castle is undergoing a significant regeneration and Walworth Town Hall functions as a bridge between the area\u2019s authentic heritage and its new future. Driven by a collaborative process, and tailor-made for small businesses to create, inspire and thrive, the reimagined Walworth Town Hall lays the groundwork for a new creative community to grow in this local destination.
\n<\/em>Frederic Schwass, chief development officer, General Projects<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Project data<\/h2>\n

Location<\/strong> Walworth Road, Southwark, London
\nStart on site<\/strong> March 2022
\nCompletion date<\/strong> December 2024
\nGross internal floor area<\/strong> 5,110m2
\n<\/sup>Form of contract or procurement route<\/strong> Design & build
\nConstruction cost<\/strong> Undisclosed
\nConstruction cost per m2 <\/sup><\/strong>Undisclosed
\nArchitect<\/strong> Feix&Merlin
\nClient<\/strong> General Projects
\nStructural engineer<\/strong> HTS Heyne Tillett Steel
\nM&E consultant<\/strong> RED Engineering
\nQuantity surveyor<\/strong>\u00a0Quartz
\nAcoustic consultant<\/strong> Sharps Redmore
\nProject manager<\/strong> Quarts
\nPrincipal designer<\/strong> ORSA
\nCDM co-ordinator<\/strong> ORSA
\nApproved building inspector<\/strong> SWECO
\nMain contractor<\/strong> Conamar Building Services
\nCAD software used<\/strong> Vectorworks<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The town hall, which was on\u00a0Historic England\u2019s Heritage at Risk register, has reopened after developer General Projects, in collaboration with Southwark Council, took on the fire-damaged building, which has been central to the local community since 1894. The site covers the former town hall, the adjoining Newington Library and the Cuming Museum. The restored building …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17128,"featured_media":773899,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"categories":[706],"tags":[5914,100629,69309,1975,2828],"yoast_head":"\nFeix&Merlin restores Walworth Town Hall as community hub<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"After suffering significant fire damage in 2013, the Grade-II listed Southwark landmark has been sensitively restored to provide flexible workspaces and community facilities\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/buildings\/feixmerlin-restores-walworth-town-hall-as-community-hub\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta 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