Connection

This project seeks to reanimate the social core of the village as a place for the community to meet and re-engage with each other and their natural surroundings. The miner’s legacy is continued as the historic landmark is restored as a reminder to Resolven of their heritage.

The proposal for a new extension to the existing building creates an interface that is celebrated to create a clear distinction between spaces that is visible to the user and beautifully detailed.

The plan was developed based on the needs of the client, community and historic use, creating a more useful and efficient building. All spaces have multiple functions meaning the users can appropriate them in the way that they need, for example, the café can also be used for art classes or music performances. In order to accommodate all the required uses, an extension has been proposed that spans two floors with the first floor overlooking the new community garden. This space can be used as a library but also a bar, serving the theatre/cinema as needed. A new reception and box office has been introduced to greet visitors from the now central and obvious main entrance and circulation around the ground floor

The Miner’s Welfare has been in disrepair for many years, both internally and externally. As part of the restoration of the existing building, the main elevation has been reimagined from its previous styles and facades to celebrate this history and remain as a monument in the village. The extension has been designed to be set back from this, so as not to take away any of this monumentality, but takes cues from the existing order. The same materials have been adopted for cohesion but have been used in a more contemporary way, providing shading to the interior and distinction between the old and new

Sustainability has been at the forefront of the design process with an early decision made to take a phased approach to construction where previous phases provide revenue that help fund the next, ensuring economic feasibility.
Given that this project is for a community space, social sustainability is very important so as well as providing different spaces for all types of community groups and individuals to meet, education, entertainment and volunteering opportunities have also been suggested.
The garden connects both social and environmental sustainability, providing space for outdoor socialising and education as well as improving biodiversity and water retention. Passive heating and ventilation strategies are integrated into the layout, reintroducing stack ventilation and now adding in cross ventilation. A sunspace helps heat the existing building while solar shading and covered space within the façade treatment of the extension ensures that it does not overheat while also casting fun shadows.

The structure has been designed with sustainability as the main driver to save money and carbon. The existing structure has been maintained where possible and materials from demolition have been reused in the extension. This extension uses locally sourced, renewable timber columns and UK sourced CLT floor slabs to optimise structural efficiency and reduce the need for more materials.