Chatham Culture Palace is an adaptive re-use of the former Grays of Chatham car showroom and its associated warehouses.

 

Transforming these disused spaces into an arts centre, it celebrates the area’s vibrant culture of creativity and ensures that art and culture remains accessible to local residents in the face of the closure of UCA’s Rochester campus.

 

The proposal consists of an art gallery dedicated to local artists, as well as a fashion and textiles studio, offering a National Diploma qualification in Fashion, Textiles and Costume. As exemplified by the highstreet elevation, the design of my proposal aims to highlight and celebrate Intra’s unique character, history and culture. Drawing on the area’s cultural heritage, such as its relationship with the river and its association with the LGBTQ+ community, I developed a vocabulary of patterns, symbols and colours.