S TA G I N G
As a site, I chose Walworth Town Hall due to its strong link to the main hub of the area - Walworth Road as well as its appreciation by local people and its rich heritage. My project strives to preserve the existing Town Hall, renovate it and extend it. Walworth Town Hall is a Grade II listed building on Walworth Road in Southwark designed by Henry Jarvis (Exploringsouthwark.co.uk, 2017). It got damaged by fire in 2013 which has destroyed the roof and some interior spaces. Our Primer’s installation was based around the theatrical heritage of Elephant and Castle; hence, I am using the concept of a “performance” in my design by interpreting the roof of the Town Hall as a stage and the West elevation as a backdrop. The former is going to accommodate a new theatre, while the latter will house a small theatrical library as well as a bookshop. The East wing is housing the new Newington library and a cafe.
One more reason behind the new theatre proposal is the recent closure of the Coronet due to regeneration (Bbc.co.uk, 2015). The building has been a very significant cultural treasure in Elephant and Castle for a long time and is to be missed greatly by local residents. My aim is to celebrate the heritage of the Town Hall and Elephant and Castle by proposing a bold, yet contextually sensitive extension. Within the new proposal all parts of the community will be welcomed, including. The resulting scheme is supposed to be a subtle reflection of the context, yet a bold statement in its own right. It is aimed to connect different communities of Elephant & Castle while putting forward a vision for the area as a place for not just tall residential blocks, but also for meaningful projects.
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