Walworth Municipal Building Holds Meeting
The restoration and transformation of Walworth Town Hall, a Grade-II listed landmark in South London, have been successfully completed by Peckham studio Feix and Merlin. The project, commissioned by developer General Projects in partnership with Southwark Council, aims to breathe new life into the iconic building, which was severely damaged by fire in 2013 and featured on Historic England's "Heritage at Risk" register.
Having spent over a decade in restoration, the town hall is now ready to serve the community again as a dynamic workplace and community hub for local businesses and groups. The 50,000-square-foot site, which encompasses the adjoining former Newington Library and Cuming Museum, has been reimagined as a flexible destination for independent, creative enterprises. It provides offices and coworking spaces for around 550 workers, catering to smaller and medium-sized businesses.
Public areas include a ground-floor community center, a new café, a restaurant within the revitalized central lobby, and a grand staircase that provides seamless access to Walworth Square. This revamp enhances the link between the site and the ongoing regeneration of Elephant and Castle.
Julia Feix, founding partner at Feix and Merlin, spoke about the project, stating, "Much of our work was about letting the building guide us and reveal what was needed." The architects unlocked previously inaccessible areas, ensuring they were accessible and welcoming to all users. This approach reaffirms the studio's commitment to people-centered design while respecting the building's historical integrity.
Sustainable practices were prioritized throughout the project. Cross-laminated timber (CLT) and Glulam were used as primary materials, aligning the building's future with contemporary standards of sustainability. Extensive use of CLT could be seen in fire-damaged sections of the building, including a reconstructed vaulted ceiling and the former council chamber, now a dramatic triple-height space.
The ground floor, housing the community center, has been designed as a series of flexible rooms, managed by the Walworth Town Hall Community Space Board. The space aims to serve as a vital resource for neighborhood activities. General People, responsible for tailored workspaces for creative industries, has integrated its Business Incubator Programme at Walworth.
Feix and Merlin's restoration project represents a vital turning point for Walworth Town Hall, transforming the historical building into a contemporary space that contributes to the vibrant cultural and economic landscape of South London.
The restoration project, spearheaded by Feix and Merlin, not only revitalizes Walworth Town Hall's historical integrity but also positions it as a cutting-edge hub for local businesses, embracing the new wave of independent, creative enterprises in the environmentally conscious home-and-garden sector, contributing to the dynamic lifestyle and overall growth of South London's economy.
