A retrofit proposal to reimagine a Grade II listed aircraft hangar into a new local, social community hub

Brabazon is a thriving new neighbourhood for Bristol, located on the historic former Filton Airfield. Ferguson Mann Architects are acting as Lead Consultant and Architect for the conservation and conversion of Hangar 16U, giving the historic structure a new lease of life as a new social hub for the local community.

Located at the heart of The Hangar District – the first collection of new homes at Brabazon Airfield – and adjacent to Brabazon Park, Hangar 16U dates from 1915, when it served as a ‘general service and storage shed’. It was a hive of activity throughout the 20^th century at this historic former Airfield, which was the birthplace of Concorde in the 1960’s.

Now it is being transformed into a new community hub as it is reimagined as a modern community hub whilst maintaining its industrial heritage.

Our architectural strategy was to highlight the old and introduce the new. Externally, the bookend arched piers and original shutter doors are restored, and encase the new, fully glazed gable ends. Internally, the historic Belfast trusses remain centre stage, demonstrating the both the heritage and scale of this former aircraft hangar. New elements sit inside the existing structure, which will house a gym, activity rooms and a large hall. The open-plan café will act as a grand entrance, emphasising the hangar’s form and history.

The team pursued measures to reduce the hangar’s carbon impact and drastically reduce its operational energy. Embodied energy has been minimised by the repair and retention of the existing building fabric. Thermal upgrades, using breathable materials, have been added to the walls, roof and floor to reduce heat loss. A hybrid of mechanical heat recovery and passive ventilation has been carefully designed to make use of the site’s available wind. Air source heat pumps will heat the interior using energy that can be provided from renewables.