RIBA Northwich Cultural Centre Design Competition

Introduction

In 2009 the Northwich Regeneration Partnership invited submissions for a two stage open design competition for the design of a new Cultural Centre to be located at Baron’s Quay, Northwich. The competition is organised with the support of the RIBA Competitions Office.

Northwich town centre

Northwich is a place with an identity, heritage and a culture derived by the significance of the geographical location and the geological context. Salt has defined the industrial landscape and created the economic infrastructure to grow into a thriving Northwest market town.

Our Approach

Our proposal aimed to create a series of spaces that provide a cultural hub to the heart of Northwich. We believed that creating a 'podium' to celebrate a range of community events will help create a cultural place - an area to help further develop the cultural identity of the town, supported by a coherent development plan that provides the mixed use offer to help sustain the townscape for 24 hours a day.

The built form represents the legacy of Northwich. Salt crystals are created when brine is evaporated; this state change forms small, transparent, colourless to white cubic forms that glow, refract, reflect and enhance the natural light conditions. We propose to celebrate this unique relationship with a range of glass crystal form structures.

Glass is manufactured from Sodium bicarbonate and is therefore considered a natural material derived from local Northwich industry.

Our Proposals

We proposed that the building form will make full use of its prominent riverside location forming new links with the existing town centre and with the future envisaged proposals of the Barons Quay area. The building would be supported by our proposed unique multi purpose public space that will be surrounded by lively bars, restaurants and cafes providing exciting views in and out of the development.

Site context plan

We proposed that access to the building would be via an elevated causeway that provides a red carpet approach to a large central foyer. It is proposed that this foyer is transparent and louvered to facilitate natural light and ventilation. This space will be both visible and accessible from the town centre, riverside walk and the surrounding landmark vantage points.

The building is split into four solid primary cube forms containing Gallery, Auditorium, Administration and Dance spaces, these forms are complemented further by transparent and solid cube forms creating spaces of differing qualities of light.

Due the buildings requirement for 24 hour use, it is proposed that concrete is used (with recycled aggregate) to provide high levels of thermal mass combined increased thermal insulation enabling the building to be heated and cooled via a ground water source heat pump

The building is arranged around a public space.

We propose that the surface finish is moulded to form a pool that can be adjusted to suit a range of states: Dry, Water and Ice. This enables the space to cater for a variety of different sized events from large scale concerts and fairs through to small scale poetry recitals and dance performances while also providing an ever changing seasonal spectacle - lido in summer, ice skating in winter.

Public space - Dry state, Night

We proposed to clad the existing sewerage plant in a sculptural form to replicate the arrangement of the salt crystals.

We also propose to create a discreet service access route adjacent to the sewerage plant to provide a ramped access to the basement service / delivery areas without compromising the newly created public amenity space.

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