Grosvenor & Hilbert Hub
Client: Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
Funding: Heritage Lottery Fund
Architect (Project Role): Frances – Project Architect at Kaner Olette Architects
Landscape Masterplan: Allen Scott Landscape Architects
Completion: 2015
Renovation and extension of the community pavilion, Tunbridge Wells
Frances acted as Project Architect on the extension and refurbishment of the community hub pavilion at Grosvenor & Hilbert Park whilst working for Kaner Olette Architects in 2015. Originally home to the bowls club changing rooms, a modest café, and public toilets, the pavilion sat at the gateway to the park but had become dated, tired, and uninviting.
The brief was to reimagine the pavilion as a true community anchor. The scheme extended the building to create a larger, light-filled café and an adaptable multi-use space for local groups and events. The fabric of the pavilion was comprehensively upgraded, over-clad in timber, and fully re-glazed to maximise natural light and offer a welcoming presence throughout the year.
The result is a refreshed and much-loved hub that now supports a wide variety of community activities and enhances the overall experience of visiting the park.
The pavilion upgrade formed a key part of the wider park masterplan, helping to elevate the arrival experience and provide a flexible, long-lasting community asset. The improvements have strengthened the park’s identity, creating a welcoming focal point that supports a wide range of activities throughout the day. The new hub café has quickly become a thriving meeting place for park users — a social anchor where families, walkers, cyclists, and visitors can gather, rest, and enjoy the surroundings.
“Over the past decade, I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with Simon and Frances on numerous projects. Their consistent excellence and dedication to quality truly sets them apart. ”