Hudson Architects is leading the transformation of a redundant commercial building in the heart of King’s Lynn into a landmark new library, creating a welcoming destination for learning, support and library services, and enhancing the streetscape with a bold civic presence.
Once home to a retail unit, offices, a car park and a nightclub, the four-storey, town centre structure has stood empty for years and is widely regarded by residents as an eyesore. This transformation offers the building a meaningful second life as a vibrant civic space.
The existing concrete frame has been retained and carefully carved to both minimise waste and give back to the streetscape; opening lost views of the historic context, enlarging the public realm and reducing the bulky appearance of the existing form. One storey has been removed and new structure only added where necessary. A large central atrium has been punctured through the centre, offering a generous circulation space and flooding the interior with natural light.
The building’s revised form is both simple and striking. A stone colonnade evokes the character of local civic buildings, while an angular roofscape reflects the varied pitched roofs of the historic port town. Fibre cement shingles, echoing the tones and textures of nearby buildings, gives the facades a lightweight feel and brings a subtle, shifting pattern to the elevation, turning the building into a distinctive new landmark. The ground floor has been opened up to create a transparent, active frontage that invites people into a lively, expansive interior.
On the roof, an extensive photovoltaic array supports Norfolk County Council’s ambition to achieve a zero-carbon estate. While a blue-green roof enhances biodiversity and manages rainwater runoff. The project is targeting a BREEAM excellent rating, with its environmental impact documented in the form of a passport.
Crucially, the project aims to revitalise this important location within the town centre by creating a welcoming public building that encourages and supports community access to the library and all the services it offers.
Visualisations by Haze Visualisations
