Refurbishment

'The design of the space will focus on the cafe area following the Phase 2 designs, with technical studies and explorations to be conducted in the snooker room, a smaller, semi-private extension to the main cafe space. The former development in design was found to be shallow and lacked depth and rigor in the research on the local vernacular. Hence, the sustainability agenda was defeated by the wastage of timber for aesthetic purposes.

To address this issue, the sustainability agenda for the Phase 4 development will prioritize reduced wastage on materials, weighing value gained, and longevity of materials for sustained use. It is also crucial to emphasize the celebration of cultural heritage to make the place sustainable by matching it with the target users and stakeholders. Picking up from Phase 2, we designed a space for a cafe and enhanced the brand story with a space for podcasting radio and music.

Following that narrative, Coaltown Coffee would be a potential stakeholder to consider for the development of the brand. Coaltown Coffee has a unique brand story that emphasizes the celebration of Welsh heritage and culture, which would align well with the goal of celebrating cultural heritage in the space.

To create a sustainable space, it is crucial to have a strong narrative and purpose that match the target users and stakeholders. Coaltown Coffee's brand story can be leveraged to create a unique and authentic space that celebrates Welsh heritage and culture, while also appealing to the target users and stakeholders.

Phase 3 explored the views that create the ambiance for the space. The intention of this inspiration is to create multiple moments within a space, allowing variation for the type of user that may use the space, depending on their comfort levels and preferences. To understand this notion within the realm of architecture, we visited St. Fagan's to understand the warm and cozy space in the vernacular Welsh space, most of the time being the fireplace and also did other research on "Cwtch" spaces and what that meant architecturally.

The fireplace is a very experiential space where the materials vary to make sure it is structurally able overhead and can sustain heat. The experience also includes the smell, heat, the comfort of the material of the chair that is sat on, and the warm light that comes from the fire. However fireplaces are not a sustainable solution anymore, however the spirit of space still remains as people gather a single item of comfort, that could be a window or simply a coffee table with coffee.

In the design, it was envisioned an industrial feel with a rustic touch can be created with the use of corten steel, exposed trusses, and exposed pipes for electricals and water as this was also inspired by Coaltown Coffee's existing cafe in Ammanford. The idea is to create a warm and cozy ambiance in the space, allowing variation for the type of user that may use the space, depending on their comfort levels and preferences. The rustic feel has then been expressed in exposed stone and by allowing natural light from strategically place skylights to accentuate the texture and depth of the stone wall.

In conclusion, by leveraging Coaltown Coffee's brand story, a unique and authentic space can be created that celebrates Welsh heritage and culture, while also appealing to the target users and stakeholders. The design will aim to create multiple moments within the space, with a warm and cozy ambiance, using natural and recycled materials, warm ambient lighting, and some plants insinde and out, keeping the natural connection between the interior and exterior.