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The Ted Hughes Writing Centre, Arvon North, Yorkshire

Calderdale

Project Details

£1m to £1.99M

Practice

Gagarin Studio

Unit 5 , Causey Hall , Dispensary Walk , HALIFAX , West Yorkshire , HX1 1QR , United Kingdom

We’re delighted to have completed the transformation of Arvon’s Yorkshire Writing House, near Hebden Bridge. Once home to Ted Hughes, the house was described by novelist Louise Doughty as “the most inspiring place imaginable for writers” — and we couldn’t agree more. The complex box buildings presented a number of challenges, with the primary aim of the project being to make the buildings more accessible and better connected, enabling all guests to experience the Arvon magic. The scheme also replaced the buildings’ reliance on gas with renewable heating systems, alongside a substantial retrofit programme. Through a pragmatic approach, we addressed key challenges within the buildings and their setting while preserving the unique character of the place. We worked closely with Lumb Bank’s co-directors to help realise their vision “to make Lumb Bank a cultural hub for the North of England".