Northwich Cultural Centre
Situated on the banks of the River Weaver in Northwich, this is our entry to the RIBA international competition for the Barons Quay Cultural Centre. As the focus of a proposed regeneration of Northwich, the centre is to be a major public facility, incorporating dance studios, a 500-seat auditorium, an art gallery, and an information centre, as well as restaurant and bar facilities.Our design features all these and two expansive spaces: a south-facing piazza that serves as a public performance space; and a covered space that links the two buildings, which can be used year round, regardless of the weather.
The site itself is demanding: it is adjacent to both the river, and a sewage facility –requiring careful orientation to maximise river views while masking the facility. A major pipeline crossing the site limits the building’s footprint.
Our solution to this was to create two pavilions linked by a soaring roof canopy, which also provides shelter for the covered open-air area.