Newburgh Village Hall

The refurbishment and alteration of the public hall in the coastal village Newburgh, Aberdeenshire addresses historical issues of accessibility, energy efficiency, comfort and functionality. Consultation started in 2017 and a great deal of effort was put in by the Hall Committee and wider community to raise funds to enable the hall’s complete refurbishment in order to safeguard its future and create a much more functional, inviting, comfortable and energy efficient building to act as a hub for the community.

The works have involved the reinstatement of the historic front door, incorporating a new entrance ramp and platt helping advertise the building’s use more clearly within the streetscape and inviting more people to use it. Internally, the layout has been reconfigured to incorporate a dedicated accessible WC and nappy change facility, and flexibility has also been built in with the incorporation of folding doors to screen off a ‘green room’ area for performances.

The entire building fabric has been insulated using materials which were selected specifically for their sustainable properties, such as diabase rock wool and recycled plasterboard. Heating is provided by new air source heat pumps, new lighting consists entirely of LEDs and the windows have been refurbished incorporating energy efficient glazing. It is also hoped that an application for grant funding will allow the future installation of a PV array and battery storage, and with this approach act as a local exemplar for how historic buildings can be adapted to meet current day needs and reduce their carbon footprint.

The colour scheme has been selected to take inspiration from the landscape and nature in and around Newburgh, which sits scenically at the mouth of the Ythan River: greens of the marram grass, gorse and trees, along with blues and grey of the coastline are tied together with a grey / sand colour representing the beach and dunes which are Newburgh’s identifying features. Historic local artist James McBey will be celebrated throughout the hall with prints of his work generously supplied by Aberdeen Art Gallery.