Railway Heritage Centre

Burntwood is a residential town located in the post-industrial West Midlands. It has a strong industrial heritage and a series of abandoned rail lines from the 19th century.

This project seeks to create an attraction from the rail lines, an unique characteristic from the area. At the same time act as a community centre and a point of reference for the inhabitants of Burntwood.

The program includes open public space, offices, a railway museum and a restaurant. Dividing the program between four buildings maximizes public spaces and makes phasing easier. The buildings are interconnected creating an ambiguous journey across the scheme. The main building is the museum where exhibition spaces hover on the top floors, leaving the functional parts of the program relegated to the ground floor.

The modular nature of the constructive method is a reflection of the industrial heritage of the area. It uses a 2.5x2.5x2.5m modular system composed of steel beams. The steel beams are manufactured off-site and then bolted on site, making it easier and quicker to build.