Warham Reading Room, a community building inWarham, North Norfolk, has been given a new lease of life after work to refurbish and extend the building was completed. The Reading Room has been a strong presence in the village of Warham, Norfolk, since its opening in 1982. Its use had declined, particularly in recent years with the building requiring modernisation, but the improvements and extensions, carried out by LSI Architects and RobSon Construction, have revived its use to secure the buildings future.
Funded by the Big Lottery Fund’s Reaching community’s programme, the restoration is sensitive to the existing building and palette of materials, complementing the existing hall but adding a flexible, functional and modern space. The use of timber, large sliding folding doors and a minimal profile canopy, open the extension up to the grounds to the rear.
A green roof has been added, not only for it’s environmental benefits, but to ensure neighbouring properties have a better view, than looking out onto a more traditional roof finish.
Rachel Harmer, Architect at LSI Architects,commented “It’s fantastic to see the building in use now the work has completed, following a great deal of hard work by a number of very committed villagers. It was important for the community to have a larger and warmer space, with better sanitary, kitchen and storage facilities and the ability to use the hall for larger groups and events or smaller meetings. By opening up the main hall, via existing openings into the extension this has been achieved, and the proposed kitchen is light and spacious with a connection to the hall spaces.” Rachel Harmer
Access and parking has also been improved with new paving and level access so the hall can be enjoyed by all.