Work

TPM Studio formed part of a large multi-disciplinary bid team, who were successful in securing the commission for the redevelopment of Sessions House in December 2021. Sessions House is the strategic headquarters of Kent County Council, includes over 200,000 Sq.ft of office accommodation, in addition to administerial and ceremonial spaces such as the council main chamber.

The team led by Faithful+Gould, initially undertook structured engagement with multiple stakeholders who had a vested interest in the project, including Maidstone Borough Council, the Ministry of Justice, Maidstone Prison, Network Rail and departments within Kent County Council.

Feasibility proposals were developed in relation to the Clients vision, strategic brief and the opportunities and constraints of the existing building. Our approach was to immerse ourselves within the history of the building, tracking its past, our response sort to unveil the original character of the building where it has been covered up by piecemeal development over an approximate 150 year period.

The proposals, which where warmly received by the Client, Historic England and Maidstone Borough Council, sought to restore as well as modernise Sessions House. This included the ground and first floors the court rooms being bought back to life, where the function of the space had changed over the years but the character of its original use could still be understood. Centrally through extensive consultation, it was perceived that the best use for the courtyard was for a flexible carefully landscaped space which could be used by staff and officers of KCC but also the wider generally public. Canopies that can be erected for events capture the essence of this flexibility.