Morland Community Hub – Arts Projects – Allford Hall Monaghan Morris

Located in Highbridge, Somerset, the existing buildings that accommodate the various activities of the Morland Community Hub, including a community hall used by several community groups for club meetings, events and workshops as well as a separate workshop which accommodates the wood working activities of SHED, based on the successful national Men’s Shed model, have become in constant need of repair and are no longer fit for purpose. Replacing these decaying structures with a new multi-use building that is flexible enough to accommodate a myriad of future user groups will secure for the community, the long-term benefit that Morland Community Hub provides.

The main hall to the south of the building can be occupied as a single space or subdivided to suite the needs of the user groups. Large circular windows provide view and playful perching spaces, while flexible built-in storage and a kitchen open onto the hall to facilitate a wide range of functions and activities. A second flexible space, positioned to the north of the building with its own entrances, will operate as a workshop for the community’s SHED users, with an acoustically protected room for noisy tools, and access to a ‘tearoom’. An annex to the north of the site, situated in an area of soft landscaping, will be dedicated to providing support for young people dealing with mental health issues.

The building design places emphasis on sustainable design and construction, renewable energy and being contextually responsive. The external appearance of the building is presented as three (connected) buildings, expressed by their pitched roofs, clad in charred timber. Colour and natural timber will be used to accent particular features on the elevations, around window frame and entrance door reveals. To animate the elevations facing the street and approach, spaces for artwork will take the place of window openings.

In support of the Sedgemoor Community Partnership’s vision for Morland Community Hub, AHMM along with Avalon, Arup, HT Ecology, Advanced Arboriculture and SLR have designed the new building pro bono.