Narberth Museum is proud to be a finalist in the Artfund Museum of the Year Award 2013. “A little gem of a museum, a small, delicate, terraced temple to the past in an old market town” – Tristram Hunt MP., a judge for the Museum of the Year Award.

Museum staff and volunteers had spent eight long years campaigning and fundraising to be able to go ahead with the conversion of the former James Williams Limited bonded warehouse that had been gifted to the Museum by the late Miss Lee Davies of the former company.

Successful bids to Heritage Lottery Fund, Aggregates Levy and Welsh Assembly Government had finally enabled the scheme to proceed.

Although not a listed building, “The Bond” as it is affectionately known locally is a rare example of 19th century industrial architecture in the town and we treated it with all the care and respect that a listed building would deserve. The Bond with its robust stone walls and barred windows had been created to keep people out for it would have been stacked high with barrels of duty free whisky and rum. Entry was through the large double doors with a double padlock latch, one key for the owner and one for the revenue. We now had to invite people in without loss to the solid character of the original building.

The design scheme aimed to preserve and repair where possible and to ensure that the skeleton of the robust industrial structure remained the prominent feature in the finished building. To this aim, all new work is unashamedly modern, from the playful waveform new entrance wing to the crisp lines of the glazed partitions and staircase all designed to complement and contrast with solidity of the Bond itself. The new walls of the ground floor interior reflect the display boards in the museum itself above by virtue of their bright white straight lines disconnected from the limed walls of the old building. Glass screens and panels allow views of the iron structures that held the weight of the barrels above.

By carefully inserting a new fire escape staircase into the building we were able to achieve an open plan central core from which it is possible to see the full extent of the building interior and move with ease between the various activities accommodated in the building. Access for all is available throughout the scheme, a platform lift allows access to the museum display level on the first floor.<e/m>

Entry to the museum is through the new shop and café for commercial function and importantly through the old Bond padlock doors. The central circulation spine of the building gives access to the research room, artefact store, community room and associated central services. The design allows the community room to be operated as a separate entity for evening use.

The first floor is given over in its entirety to the museum display including areas for education and children’s activities which play an important role in the philosophy of this local museum.

The building has sophisticated electrical and heating systems supplemented with a photovoltaic array concealed in the roof valley capable of providing 4kw of electrical power.

Project manager: Geraldine Delaney – Heritage Regeneration.
Architect: Steve Hole
Quantity Surveyor: Adrian Vasey of Downies
Structural Engineer: John Brailsford
M+E Design Engineer: Mike Sauro
Interpretive Design: Headland Design

Cliff Café, Tenby
Client : Atlantic Hotel Limited

Design Brief

Creation of a new bistro bar for the Hotel within the established terraced gardens above the beach cliffs.

Design Solution

The scheme was designed in steel and reinforced concrete creating roof terracing and frameless structural glazing to maximise the panoramic views of the coast and Caldy Island.

The building was anchored back to the existing rock face in the central position amoung the Italianate Gardens created at the turn of the century.

It was envisaged that the new kitchen would serve food not only to the interior of the cafe and its new glass fronted terrace but to tables located on the roof and the other existing garden terraces that lead off from the existing steps down to the beach.

The building was designed to have a simple grill kitchen and air conditioning to counter the heat gain from the glass walls. Services to be brought under the road from the Hotel. Toilet facilities are provided at the lower level, waste water being collected in a pump house under the lower level and pumped back across the road to the hotel.

Contractors
Ross James Construction
Approximate Contract Value
£125,000

New Scout and Guide Facilities—A mixed development of flats and a new hall for the Scout & Guide movement

Design Brief
A mixed development of flats and a new hall for the Scout & Guide movement. The Tenby Scout & Guide association entered into a partnership with GKV developments to redevelop the Warren Street site. The site was transferred to the development company in return for the provision of the new hall facilities.

Design Solution
The scheme involved the complete clearance of the site including the old scout hall. The approved design incorporates six flats on the street frontage over private garages. The new Scout and Guide facilities are located at the rear of the site with both front access through the apartments lobby and a separate side access.

The scale of the redevelopment reflects the character of the existing buildings in Warren Street. The use of bay windows, gables and dormer windows to the third floor harmonises with the existing streetscape.

Contractors
F J Chalcroft Construction | Approximate Contract value £620,000

Nomination: Local Authority Building Excellence Awards 2009, development consisting of 14 dwellings

This development consists of 14 dwelling, constructed on a brownfield site, with the intention of providing good and yet affordable family homes.

There were difficulties encountered during the design and construction processes due to all the services running through the site, including the presence of an adjacent stream, and all the necessary engineering works such as piled foundations that were required.

The development was carried out by well known local building contractors John Greggain & Son, with all design work undertaken by Willis and Hole Architects Ltd. The dwellings have been constructed traditionally, to a high standard and meet the affordability needs of the area.

Contractor – J Greggain and sons, Neyland, Pembrokeshire
Scheme Name – Silverstream- residential development at Hakin, Pembrokeshire
Architect/Surveyor Willis and Hole Ltd., Narberth, Pembrokeshire

INFORMATION SOURCE : Pembrokeshire County Council Website
SEE ALSO : Buildings Excellence Awards and Commendations 2009