The Resolven Miners Welfare (RMW) on teaching and learning opportunities for the community

The concept in earlier phases was to focus the Resolven Miners Welfare (RMW) on teaching and learning opportunities for the community. The result brought a sense of belonging to Resolven through inter-generational connections, respecting the current users while introducing new opportunities and purpose to the building. The visions and objectives for my project is the successful integration of the library back into the Resolven Miners Welfare. The library was originally located in the RMW when the hall opened in 1923 and the aim is to bring the space back to the RMW to offer an educational space that also celebrates the area’s mining history.

My project focuses on continuation and connections by exploring the lighting and drainage opportunities through various roof explorations. The continuation and connections between the old and the new are focused through structure, material and detail explorations. The site appraisal sets out my strategy, focusing on the opportunity and constraints the site has to offer. The library space is a natural extension from the existing RMW and its form was explored to maximise its context and to use passive technological principles as design drivers.

The roof formation was explored to determine the most effective solution in terms of drainage and lighting. The sustainability agenda is set with the form of the building designed to allow for sustainable rainwater collection with the water collected in an underground tank and pumped for reuse as greywater and irrigation. Glazing is used to maximise passive solar gains and the sun's altitude throughout the year has been considered in allowing this.

The final proposal is a result of applying technical opportunities through a design process and the qualities of space set out by precedent studies which results in a sustainable focused design. The floor plan is driven by the concept and the need to address the layout in terms of fire safety, accessibility and circulation. To allow for a seamless continuation through design, the structure is based on a grid with the aim that all features of the design including the glazing and furniture are designed into this grid to allow for a seamless finish. The new timber extension contrasts to the existing brick facade and connects to form a natural connection. The design choices, materials and details have been carefully analysed before selection and the final construction section and render highlight the areas of focus and objectives