Old Buildings, New Purpose: Lessons from Temuka

On recent travels I came across this gem. In a previous life it was a supermarket. In 1997 the Timaru District Council repurposed the building to become the Temuka Library and Service Centre. Retrofitting old spaces and giving them a new life is far from a new concept, and is an option that needs to be considered more when developing community facilities. Too often the default is "build new".

Other than the obvious benefit of a low capital cost, there are several others that also spring to mind. The open space nature of buildings previous used for large retail allow a pretty simple conversion. This type of building often comes with great car-parking and the location is usually based on the ability to attract as many people as possible, therefore high profile (often not possible with greenfield sites). This type of building is mainly on one floor, ensuring accessibility can be easily integrated. Combine all this with a “can do” attitude and this building is fit-for-purpose and a shining example of an affordable facility solution.

Richard Linsday