An award-winning, community-led design resulting in a flexible and imaginative civic building.

Centred within a process of community engagement, the design of the Somerset Civic Centre has created a premier community facility for the residents of Esk and Somerset. The challenge was to create a large civic hall to sit comfortably within a natural setting and a community context that is simple and understated.

Beginning with a three day ‘set-up-shop’ community workshop, this process was met with passion from local councillors and key community representatives. Ultimately, an efficient and streamlined process was created, where community feedback directly impacted on the look, direction and mixed-use purpose of this community asset.

Key community feedback along with an appreciation of the natural assets of the site have shaped the design to combine the multi-purpose functions required of a community centre with Esk’s community philosophy of warmth and integrity. The result is a design that fulfills the changing needs of this growing community by creating a flexible, eco-resilient and innovative civic building.