The AJ Retrofit & Reuse Awards recently celebrated architectural excellence in the renewal and repurposing of existing buildings, spotlighting projects that prioritise reuse of materials and structure across 16 categories. Among the highlights was Feix&Merlin Architects being named Practice of the Year, largely for their sensitive and innovative restoration of Walworth Town Hall in south London. This Grade II-listed building, a local landmark since 1894, had suffered severe fire damage in 2013 and was subsequently placed on the Heritage at Risk register.

Feix&Merlin's transformation of Walworth Town Hall is testament to the firm’s commitment to preserving heritage while adapting to contemporary needs. Retaining 95% of the original structure, the project carefully blended restoration with the introduction of modern materials such as Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) and Glulam. These sustainable timber inserts were pivotal in rebuilding damaged sections, including the reconstruction of a vaulted ceiling in the former council chamber. The ground-floor café and lobby now feature open-plan spaces with timber ceilings and arched timber columns, creating a welcoming environment that supports both community use and flexible workspaces designed to accommodate over 550 people.

This complex project involved collaboration with developer General Projects and Southwark Council and required an extensive design process, producing over 5,000 drawings. The scheme also incorporates a community centre composed of three flexible rooms, managed by the Walworth Town Hall Community Space Board—a non-profit group comprising local residents, youth representatives, council members, and General Projects’ management arm. Judges at the awards praised the project’s strong community engagement, noting that the team went beyond its initial brief to enhance public access and inclusivity throughout the lifespan of the project.

The restoration’s environmental credentials were equally recognised, with significant embodied carbon reductions estimated at 68 tonnes CO2e through the use of mass timber construction methods. This sustainable approach aligns with wider industry trends in achieving net-zero retrofit ambitions, a key theme underscored by the AJ Retrofit & Reuse Awards themselves, which rebranded last year to better reflect an evolving industry focus on sustainability and material reuse.

Feix&Merlin Architects, an LGBTQI+-led practice based in Peckham and founded in 2006 by Julia Feix and Tarek Merlin, exemplify a versatile approach to retrofitting that balances heritage conservation with strong community-oriented architecture. Building on their success with Walworth Town Hall, the practice is also working on adaptive reuse projects of varying scales, including a notable collaboration with David Chipperfield Architects on a London School of Economics building and a smaller-scale regeneration project in Walthamstow involving railway arches and public realm improvements.

The Practice of the Year award recognises Feix&Merlin’s ability to deliver equitable, high-quality design while navigating complex restoration challenges. Their work demonstrated "admirable perseverance" and a nuanced understanding of how adaptive reuse can simultaneously protect heritage, respond to environmental concerns, and foster local community involvement. The award ceremony, held at The Brewery in the City of London, culminated the AJ Retrofit Live conference and featured a rigorous judging process involving a panel of 30 esteemed professionals, highlighting how Feix&Merlin's achievements set a benchmark for the sector.

As retrofit and reuse become increasingly critical in the fight against climate change and urban regeneration, projects like Walworth Town Hall offer inspiring examples of how architecture can honour the past, engage the present community, and build towards a sustainable future.

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Source: Noah Wire Services