Foundation, Altrincham

Trafford, North West

Foundation, Altrincham is located within the heart of Altrincham and reimagines a former office building as a flexible and inclusive civic resource, providing affordable workspace, social enterprise facilities and community-focused activity within a revitalised town centre setting. Its ambition lies in enabling people, ideas and local enterprise to flourish within a reused and re-energised structure.

Architecturally, the project is characterised by clarity, restraint and purpose. The adaptation of the existing building has been approached with a strong understanding of its original fabric and structure, allowing much of the building to be retained while significantly improving its functionality and presence. Interventions are clearly expressed and carefully judged, ensuring that the building’s new role is legible without erasing its past. The resulting architecture feels robust and honest, shaped by use and occupation rather than formal display.

Internally, the building has been reconfigured to support a diverse range of users and activities. Flexible workspaces, shared facilities and communal areas are arranged to encourage collaboration, interaction and mutual support between occupants. The organisation of space supports a variety of scales and modes of working, allowing social enterprises, small businesses and community groups to operate alongside one another within a coherent and welcoming environment. This adaptability ensures that the building can respond to changing needs over time.

Sustainability was a core driver of the project from the outset. The decision to retain and adapt the existing structure significantly reduced embodied carbon, while targeted upgrades have improved environmental performance and operational efficiency. The project’s sustainability strategy prioritised pragmatic, achievable measures that support long-term use, ensuring that the building is economical to operate and resilient in the face of future change. Environmental responsibility is therefore embedded within both the fabric of the building and the model of occupation it supports.

The building has been designed to be accessible and inclusive, with clear circulation, step-free access and legible spatial organisation throughout. These measures ensure that Foundation is usable by people of differing ages, abilities and needs, enabling independent access and fostering a strong sense of welcome. Inclusivity is not treated as an add-on, but as a defining quality of the building’s civic role.

By providing affordable, flexible space for social enterprise and community use, the project strengthens local networks and supports economic resilience.