Surrey County Hall
- Client: RER
- Contacts: Guy Harris
The reimagining, re-use and redevelopment of the redundant Grade II* listed Surrey County Hall, will provide a truely mixed-use development consisting of new flexible workspace, events space and high-quality homes, whilst enhancing the landscape and pedestrian permeability across the site.
The retention and restoration of over 80% of the existing listed buildings offers a unique opportunity for a highly sustainable, truly mixed-use town centre development providing approximately 50,000sqft of flexible SME workspace aimed at entrepreneurs and creative industries with capacity for almost 600 people. Located immediately adjacent to Kingston University, flexible co-working spaces will help to stimulate entrepreneurship in the town, allowing for the incubation and growth of new and existing businesses.
To complement the existing buildings, non-heritage assets will make way for new high-quality residential buildings whose design has been carefully considered to harmonise both with the listed buildings and also the neighbouring residential properties.
Together with the conversion of the former administrative offices, the development will provide 292 private and affordable homes, together with resident’s lounges and a café to be used by residents, workers and the community alike, integrating the new elements into the existing fabric of the site while preserving its character.
The design of the new buildings strikes a balance between the civic architectural style of the Grade II* listed Surrey County Hall and the vernacular of the neighbouring residential streets. Two distinct typologies, with varying heights, roof types, materiality and window modulation, have been sensitively developed by the architectural team to enhance the setting of the listed building, harmonise with its neighbours, yet create distinct modern buildings that embrace the character of the place.
