We’ve been working with Calderdale Council on its exciting restoration project at Halifax Borough Market.
The Grade II* listed market hall, which opened in 1896, is a stunning example of Victorian architecture. The Council is in the process of renovating the historic market to create a warmer and more welcoming place for people to shop, eat, drink and spend time. The project includes refurbishing the main roof, creating an events space and transforming the area around the central clock.
Our input has been to devise a wayfinding scheme to draw people into the heart of the building. The market is a cinch to find in itself, and it’s relatively easy to navigate once you’re in. The difficulty lies in making people aware of what’s on offer and enticing them in from the perimeter to have a look for themselves.
Our scheme centres around a series of digital totems inside the market entrances, which will advertise what’s on offer inside. The signs will signpost visitors to individual market traders, as well as promote live events taking place in the centre of the market.
The digital solution is ideal for this context because it won’t go out of date when an individual market trader moves on. It also provides the market with the means to advertise its regular series of events, which is a core part of Calderdale’s wider regeneration plans for not only the market but the wider town centre.
Tom Brookson, project manager
The scheme’s design and colour palette are inspired by the building’s fantastic architectural detailing. As a Grade II* listed building, it’s in the top 6% of historically significant buildings in the country so our scheme has to not only be sensitively designed but needs listed building consent before being installed.
With the initial phase of signs already approved and in situ, the digital totems have now also secured listed building consent so we’re looking forward to seeing the project progress and the finished article installed.
