Extension & Remodelling
Bringing this wonderful building back to life
Located at the heart of Staplehurst village, the community centre already plays a key role in local life, boasting a central location, good condition, and a mix of flexible, well-sized spaces. Contributing positively to the street scene, the building offers huge potential for enhancement. Our design strategy, developed in close partnership with the trustees, seeks to unlock this potential through thoughtful interventions: improving accessibility, reimagining underused internal areas, creating safer outdoor space for the playgroup, and enhancing the building’s arrival experience. This work forms part of our ongoing collaboration with the trustee-led organisation to shape long-term plans that will secure the centre’s future as a vibrant, valued community asset for generations to come.
The Transformation
The ground floor plan before vs after…
The key changes
The design carefully responds to the character of the existing community centre, using a complementary palette of brick, dark timber, and metal details that sit naturally alongside Kentish ragstone, sandstone, brick, and clay tiles. A key move is the removal and reconfiguration of previous rear extensions to create larger, more flexible spaces that can support a wider range of community activities. Early massing studies helped refine the layout to improve circulation and maximise usable internal space. At the heart of the proposal is a new East Hall, designed with a stage and generous proportions to accommodate performances, events, and communal dining, bringing new energy and potential to this much-loved village asset.
Construction
How the transformation is going… stay tuned for more information!
