Concept
Below the Lines will breathe new life into the redundant railway building, transforming it into a vibrant cultural and community hub, a place for people from diverse backgrounds to communicate through the shared language of music and the arts.
This heritage development of a new music venue aims to attract a diverse audience of local participants, who have no identity with its past community significance. I aim to encourage engagement through hosting well promoted, accessible, music related events that foster an inclusive environment and re-establish connections.
The former railway station building which is divided into two parts by an outdoor tunnel will feature a rent and repair shop for instruments and an instrument lesson learning space in one half, and a main performance space, audience space, bar, cloakroom and reception in the other.
The concept incorporates both daytime and night-time use to ensure the building remains continuously utilised as an accessible facility that illuminates its surroundings attracting attention and admiration of its purpose.
The building will feature commercial and community areas separated by the existing tunnel from the busy road to the garden haven behind. It can be imagined as an instrument that users are guided around on a journey through rhythmical tunnels, spaces and staircases.
Through sensitive design it encourages a seamless transition between its functions with particular attention paid to transitional areas and the use of flexible multi-use spaces that can be adapted for different forms of entertainment.
