First constructed in 1887, Grade II listed Gwyn Hall was the community and performance centre in Neath until 2005 when it was tragically destroyed by a fire, leaving only small parts of the original structure remaining. AJ100 practice Holder Mathias Architects were asked to design and rebuild the community hall; this provided an exciting and challenging opportunity for them to create a new venue which provided state of the art facilities whilst restoring the traditional features of the fire-damaged building.

A new roof was required for the entire building and architect Wilco Stekkinger wanted to use all of the available area, so the theatre was placed at the very top level of the venue in what could have been a window-less loft space. Natural light ingress was therefore a key requirement for this area and the architect decided that the original Conservation Rooflight® was the most appropriate roof window range for this project due to its traditional aesthetics and unobtrusive appearance.

Further consultation with the Rooflight Company showed the architect how the option to link the original Conservation Rooflight® together would allow large volumes of natural light to flood the theatre space below. This sealed the specification.

Wilco Stekkinger, Holder Mathias Architects said: “The linked Conservation Rooflights® internally bathe the space in light, almost as if we had resorted to a curtain wall-style solution. Externally however, they have a very slim profile and are more in keeping with the traditional slate roof. The community centre continues to grow in popularity within Neath and both I and the client are very pleased with the final result.”