Speight’s Ale House Blenheim

Practice
Arthouse Architects Ltd

Category
Hospitality and Retail

Location
Nelson/Marlborough

A clarity of form and the bold use of natural materials are distinguishing characteristics of this building’s exterior. The street entrance is clearly signalled through a robust concrete element impressed with ‘off form’ horizontal board markings. The façade, stepping inwards, creates a comfortable external seating area set around a schist-clad fireplace and pergola lined with rough-sawn timber cladding. The central bar is both a fulcrum for the building, resolving entry approaches from both the street and the rear carpark, and a centrepiece for the series of interconnected bar and restaurant seating spaces. The proportions of the exterior form generate a satisfying composition, supporting a lively and comfortable local destination.

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