- An example of an innovative solution to re-use an historic building in a potentially valuable location.
- Use of this site in Coventry’s central commercial area had been blocked by the cost of the renovation of a Grade II* former Silk Merchants house. The building is one of only two remaining Georgian panelled houses in Central Coventry and opening up the interior as suggested by many commercial users was not acceptable on conservation grounds.
- All previous attempts to resolve the problem had been foiled because of the assumption that the historic parts of the building should also house the commercially valuable activity.
- Our solution was to carefully evaluate the building and develop a proposal that enabled the intended use as a Bar-Restaurant to be accommodated. The simple but elegant solution to the problem was to wrap the new use around the key building, using parts of the site that had less importance or already damaged structures upon it. This required a confident approach to the conservation and historic building issues as partial demolition was necessary.
- ▪ Client: Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries
