19 - 21 Market Place
Wokingham
Reviving Wokingham’s high street by reimagining it as a thriving hub for living, working, and playing, while addressing climate change and embracing a locally-oriented economy.
Our high streets require a fresh approach. To populate our town centres, embrace localism and address climate change we need to redesign retail to meet the needs of today and resilience for tomorrow, enhancing both commercial and social value. Retail needs to be resized not replaced, evolved not eliminated.
Our proposal aims to establish a new sustainable neighbourhood in Wokingham, reinvigorating an under-utilised site and car park to combine resilient, flexible retail, a new public square, and shopping arcade design with thoughtfully designed new homes on the high street. This is a unique opportunity to revive a brownfield site positioned between the historic Town Hall and other major regeneration projects in the town.
450m2
New public square
500m2
Flexible retail space
60
Contemporary new homes
Working in Historic Market Towns
The proposed site arrangement takes inspiration from the historical narrow burgage plots that once stretched from Market Place. The roof forms mirror the characteristic double-pitched gables that face Market Place, with varying heights and pitches to sit within the area’s diverse roofscape. Between these pitches, sunken plant wells discreetly house sustainable heating systems and PV panels, integrating modern technologies while preserving the town's historic charm. The protruding street-facing entrance bays present contemporary reinterpretations of the traditional 1930s front bay commonly found in Wokingham.
A New Public Square for Wokingham
At the heart of the scheme is Denmark Square, a new vibrant public space surrounded by shopfronts, offering the opportunity for outdoor dining. It provides a welcoming external amenity space for visitors and residents to enjoy. Enhancing connectivity, a new mews-style route lined with residential buildings connects the square to the residential streets in the surrounding area. While a new shopping arcade seamlessly integrates the square with the bustling high street, to create a cohesive and engaging urban environment.
Heritage-Driven Design
By studying and embracing the architectural language of the past, we have endeavoured to create a design that respects and reflects the unique character of the Wokingham Town Centre Conservation Area. Drawing inspiration from the prevalent architectural styles found in the area, we have incorporated elements that pay homage to Wokingham’s historical legacy. This approach allows our design to seamlessly integrate with the existing streetscape and maintain a visual continuity that is appropriate for this well-loved historic market town.
19-21 Market Place Wokingham Walkthrough Video
Learn more about approach to reinvigorating our high streets.
↓ Visit our insights page
The Future of the Highstreet
Or alternatively email:
info@architectureinitiative.com
to find out more
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