The Cultural Exchange

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Heritage and Conservation Intervention

MArch Architecture, Year 2

The Council House and Exchange is a Grade II* listed building, and quite possibly the most important heritage asset that the city of Nottingham possesses. Its role in civic culture is unparalleled by any other civic centre; acting as a focal point and icon of the city. Hence, any intervention in the existing structure must be considerate and respectful to the character of the building and its place within both the city’s and residents’ identities.

The intervention aims to function as a site of cultural exchange and provide new use-value to the extant building through its function as a microlibrary, a performance space, and an exhibition space. Relative to the scale of the existing heritage asset (the Council House and Exchange building, Nottingham), the proposed intervention is small-scale in nature, and minimally invasive in its insertion into the current scheme.

Overall, the intervention will benefit the heritage asset as an act of future-proofing; providing a flexible cycle of activity within the civic heart of Nottingham to secure its prospects.