Centre for Forest Arts

The Forest Arts Centre is built around the nested territories of Treherbert, particularly the Welcome to Our Woods (WTOW) encapsulating their aspirations to make Treherbert Wales’ first Forest Town. Treherbert is an ex-mining village in the Rhondda valleys, but my discussions with the community revealed that, going forward, they want to be known for more than just mining. The Centre for Forest Arts is designed using environmentally friendly materials, such as modular, prefabricated timber panels (to be built by WTOW nearby), Welsh sheep’s wool insulation and biochar, produced locally in Treherbert.

The woodland around Trehebert became de-territorialised by the industrial activities associated with mining and many locals still see it as somewhere separate and dangerous. The Centre for Forest Arts will re-territorialise the woodlands by improving accessibility not only for people but for ideas. Linking to a wider support network of the Wales Fibereshed, the centre will create sustainable skilled jobs built on the artistic and textile heritage of Treherbert whilst considering the legacy for future generations.

The Centre for Forest Arts will re-territorialise the woodlands by improving accessibility not only for people but for ideas. Linking to a wider support network of the Wales Fibereshed, the centre will create sustainable skilled jobs built on the artistic and textile heritage of Treherbert whilst considering the legacy for future generations. The Centre is ideally placed to be a gateway between the village and the woodland. It is near the station and the proposed new bridge and at the start of some of the most beautiful woodland walks in Treherbert (leading to the room in the woods from my first semester project). New ‘tactile’ walkways have been designed to improve accessibility. The building is shaped to the landscape and laid out on a grid system with large areas of non-load-bearing glazing. The sawtooth roof provides a large area for south-facing solar panels, whilst the nearby Cwm Saerbren hydro provides backup power. The glazing maximizes solar gain and allows glimpses of forest through the building, emphasizing its role as a gateway whilst integral blinds control both light and privacy. The building has a façade that opens up, connecting with the forest and the south-facing courtyard whilst cloisters create spaces to sit whilst mitigating heat gain in summer and allowing low winter sun to penetrate.

Natural pigments are the basis of a regenerative, soil-to-soil economy for Treherbert, where textiles and artwork are produced using locally sourced materials. Foraging for natural dye materials will improve mental health, connecting people to the landscape and the seasons, whilst roof gardens provide new habitats for wildlife and access to plants for those with limited mobility. The café provides another community-run space generating sustainable income using locally grown produce.The centre is designed as a flexible, modular space providing studios, workshops and activities, that are accessible to all with ‘changing space toilets’ and wheelchair-friendly access throughout.