Could an historic building take on new life as a community and arts centre?

The Sims building in Port Chalmers is a historic foundry, currently vacant and roofless. It forms an important part of the industrial heritage of Dunedin. A charitable trust is seeking to save the building and residents would like to see it used as a community centre. How might it be converted to a multipurpose community centre?

Architecture student Sasha Meyer has developed a concept for a new Koputai community and arts centre incorporating the old Sims building. Respecting the heritage value of the foundry building, a new purpose-built artists' centre could be added on to meet community needs.

"This design re-introduces a depiction of Māori culture in Port Chalmers and signifies the current cultural phenomenon of 'third space' - a meeting place between Pakeha and Māori culture. The timber beams and roofing of the new design represent an upturned waka, which leads toward the foundry building and 'third space' contained at the entrance, where new and old meet."

Sasha's design leaves the space inside the Sims building open, with moveable furniture, so that it can be used as a community performance, function or wedding venue.

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