Greytown Heritage Refurbishment | Wairarapa

By refurbishing the existing town hall, Greytown took the opportunity to build a new type of community centre. In addition to housing the traditional town hall functions, the reconfigured hall generously extends its civic facilities to offer a meeting place, information centre, art gallery, community consultation venue, research archive, council service centre, and a multi-media library – all connected to the world by the internet. With the library now ‘centre stage’, and a new archive in the basement the heritage building has become a live repository of local knowledge. A focus for reflection, support and exchange of information, the alterations and additions re-define the building as a ‘forum’ or meeting place for this rural town.

The refurbishment and addition to the existing town hall in Greytown is a project that has been analysed carefully on many different levels by the architects. Through the veranda and translucent wall on the north, this project successfully addresses and connects to the wider context of Greytown’s streetscape. The thoughtfully worked detailing and material selection, layered into the rich sectional quality of the project, show careful consideration of the more intimate experience of the users, bringing in moments of joy in the everyday use of this building. There is a clear distinction between the existing and new parts of the building. This revitalizes the old and adds depth and delight to the new.

NZIA Resene National Award 2008

Awards

NZIA NZ Architecture Award, 2008

NZIA Local Architecture Award, 2007

Publications

Kebbell, S. (2008, June). Greytown Forum: Buildings of the Year. Architecture NZ. p. 34