Skibbereen is a thriving active town. The local building vernacular is dominated by the Georgian proportion and a healthy rhythm of character-full and colourful facades, whilst at street level a strata of shop frontages adds another level of animation and vibrancy. In contrast, there is a simpler and more humble language adopted by many of the old workhouse buildings, including the Woolfe Bakery This strength in character and topography has informed the design philosophy for this project. The starting point is the reinterpretation of the existing Woolfe Bakery and its grand proportions. A similar shaped extension block is hinged off this building creating an open courtyard facing the town, but set behind the Caol Stream.

This new court space is linked into the cross pattern of back streets, and when not used for public gathering and meeting, it will serve as an outdoor sculpture court and base for temporary structures and the cinema. Other ‘public face' activity includes the artist in residence studios and the commercial space plugged into the base of the existing Bakery, all of which link into the court and the retained passageway extending from the stream through to the high street.