Rochdale Pioneers Museum

The modern Co-operative movement began in 1844 with the Rochdale Pioneers in a wool warehouse in Toad Lane. That building survives today as a museum established in 1931, that was refurbished with an internal concrete structure to prevent its collapse in the 1970s.

The historic fabric of the warehouse was renewed through the conservation and correction of fenestration, masonry and the testing and matching of original lime mortar samples to ensure that renewed and replaced pointing unified the look and performance of the brickwork envelope, whilst stripping the white paint from all interior surfaces revealed the original fabric.

A mezzanine floor provides an education space and the resulting double height void beyond the glass balustrade connects the upper floors allowing the large showcases to be viewed from two levels. Floor area was gained further by moving vertical circulation outside the main building to a new tower of contrasting material and geometry.

Natural materials have been selected, such as the naturally weathering oak rainscreen, timber curtain wall system and glu-laminated timber structure enclosing the new staircase and lift. Organic and non-solvent based paints have been used and linoleum flooring has been employed throughout the building except in areas where the original stone flags were retained.