Durham, UK - Civic
Driven by the desire to create a quality civic building that would be an asset to the city, the brief was to provide a new home Durham County Council (DCC) to aid efficiency through organisational transformation and agile working.
Defining the edge of the urban core, adjoining the historic open land of The Sands, and fronting onto the River Wear, the building frames a new civic square to be at one with its surroundings. From the floorplates organisation addressing the river at a lower level to the extraordinary views over the city’s castle and cathedral at higher levels, the building creates a tranquil environment for users.
Our approach was underpinned by the principles of transparency, inclusivity and accessibility, which have informed design decisions from building massing and organisation, navigation and wayfinding, to the public realm.
