Adaptive reuse
A historic building reborn for community and creativity.
Redwing Arts
Redwing Arts occupies a historic building on Alverton Street that had become increasingly difficult to use and maintain. Ageing services, poor accessibility, and a fragmented layout limited its potential as a community arts space. With support from the Architectural Heritage Fund, the project focuses on re‑using and revitalising the building, creating an inclusive, creative hub that supports local people and strengthens Penzance’s cultural life.
Redwing Arts CIC asked us to transform the building into a fully accessible, community‑centred arts space that could support workshops, exhibitions, social activity, and affordable creative workspace. The brief prioritised building re‑use, improved circulation, upgraded services, and a more open, welcoming presence on the street. Supported by the Architectural Heritage Fund, the project aims to secure the building’s long‑term future for community and creative use.
The Brief
Our Response
Our approach focuses on unlocking the building’s potential through thoughtful re‑use rather than heavy intervention. A new internal staircase and clearer circulation routes make the building accessible and intuitive, opening up previously constrained areas for community activity. The entrance is reconfigured to create a warm, visible threshold that accommodates the community pantry and signals a building that is open, active, and welcoming.
Flexible studio spaces are expanded to provide additional affordable creative workspace, supporting local artists while generating sustainable income for the organisation. Upgraded services, improved thermal performance, and rationalised layouts reduce running costs and enable year‑round use.
Every intervention strengthens the building’s role as a community asset - a place where people can gather, create, learn, and connect. The result is a sensitive, sustainable regeneration project that protects heritage while nurturing creativity and social wellbeing.
