Kresen Kernow
Cornwall’s new archive and cultural hub
The restoration and conversion of the derelict Redruth Brewery has created Kresen Kernow – a new county archive and local studies centre for Cornwall.
Set within the UNESCO Cornish Mining World Heritage Site, this ambitious project brought together over 1.5 million documents and 850 years of Cornish and Isles of Scilly history in one publicly accessible home. Designed to meet the highest archival and sustainability standards, Kresen Kernow has become a regional landmark and beacon for heritage-led urban regeneration.
Unlocking an undevelopable site
The Redruth Brewery site had been abandoned for decades and was blighted by flood risk and unstable ground. Underlain by former mine workings, it had been condemned as undevelopable. However, beneath this damaged industrial shell lay the potential for meaningful reuse. Our approach began with a detailed study of what could – and should – be retained.
A major programme of flood alleviation, environmental, and public realm works successfully unlocked the site. Our team stabilised immense stone walls, reopened windows and doors, and reinstated the site’s landmark chimney. We chose new materials, including copper, granite, and oak, for their durability and resonance with the area’s industrial identity.
The new extension, housing environmentally controlled, energy-efficient strong-rooms, is designed to withstand both fire and flood. Its concrete panels and dramatic picture window offer a striking counterpoint to the retained masonry of the original brewhouse.
The derelict site, prior to works
The completed project
– RIBA Award Judges
Heritage and civic pride
Having thrived since the 12th century, Redruth suffered from the decline of mining and industry. Kresen Kernow is a catalyst for wider economic regeneration, while preserving and celebrating a distinct identity.
We believe that heritage spaces should inspire and serve their communities.
The building is not just a store for records, but a welcoming civic space, blending contemporary functionality with the character of its industrial past.
Our design of Kresen Kernow redefines the role of the archive visitor, placing interactivity, accessibility, and user functionality at its heart through the re-envisioning of unused and underused spaces.
Natural light fills the double-height spaces, while reopened access routes and landscaped grounds re-connect the archive to the town. A new public square and pedestrian pathways – including art and sculpture – have transformed a once-inaccessible site into an inviting environment.
Through careful material reuse and energy-efficient construction, the building keeps embodied carbon low and maximises environmental performance, achieving long-term sustainability through both design and durability.
– Deborah Tritton, Project Leader, Cornwall Council
Enriching the community
From the start, the project aimed to benefit local people through training, employment and education.
Community outcomes
12
apprenticeships
11
local jobs
21
formal qualifications
These outcomes demonstrate the broader impact of the project: embedding skills, confidence and opportunity within the community, alongside physical transformation.
Kresen Kernow is much more than an archive. We turned a derelict site into a facility that can stimulate further growth and development for the local community. The impact of its £12m grant funding, including from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, can already be felt across the town and region.
Team
- David Burne Associate
Details
- Client Cornwall Council
- Team Bristol Studio
- Location Redruth
- Country United Kingdon
- Photography Diane Auckland
Awards
- RIBA South West Won 2021
- Planning Awards: Design Excellence Won 2021
- AJ Architecture Award: Culture Shortlisted 2021
- AJ Retrofit Award Shortlisted 2021
- Civic Trust Award Won 2020
- Civic Trust Award: Selwyn Goldsmith Award for Universal Design Highly Commended 2020
