Wensum Park, Norwich - Public Washroom Design Project

Project Details

Client Norwich City Council
Location Wensum Park, Norwich
Size 24 sqm GIA
Sectors Community Leisure

Alteration and Refurbishment of Grade 2 Listed Public Toilets

Norwich City Council’s Development and City Services Department commissioned Cannon Clarke Architects to refurbish the 1920s toilet facilities for Wensum Park. Wensum Park was part of an extensive ‘Parks’ development programme in Norwich masterminded by Captain Arnold Edward Sandys-Winsch in the early Twentieth Century.

The existing arrangements provided ‘traditional’ separate male, female and accessible areas. Cannon Clarke Architect’s approach was to completely gut the interior, make a large opening to the principal elevation and place 4 unisex cubicles and 1 accessible DDA compliant off a weather-protected, semi-external lobby accessed by a paired ramp and landing. The existing DDA cubicle is repurposed as a general store.

Safe-guarding was utmost in Cannon Clarke Architects’ thinking, in that, the common lobby has 3 points of access/egress meaning that dead-end conditions and the possibility of ‘tale-gating’ are not present – unlike the existing condition.

The external face of the bank of cubicles is proposed in embossed anodised aluminium to present a robust finish and a new elevation visible from the greater extents of the park.

The proposals achieved Listed Building Consent by Norwich City Council and construction is due to commence in late 2024.

Cannon Clarke Architects are appointed to carry out full RIBA services including contract administration to ensure our detailed proposals are followed and with a high level of financial control. We look forward to delivering this leisure and commercial space for Norwich City Council.

For your next leisure and commercial development, Cannon Clarke Architects would be delighted to assist by providing detail and care at every stage.