Charnwood Borough Council
Our brief
Service Design to Reimagine The Old Rectory Museum
The Old Rectory Museum, located near Loughborough Parish Church at Rectory Place, occupies the back of a large, underutilised plot of land and was frequently vandalised due to its limited use.
Consequently, the Charwood Borough Council requested that we develop a concept to sustain the museum into the future by repurposing both the Old Rectory and its grounds.
The challenge was to to attract more visitors and enhance local resident engagement with both the museum and the surrounding garden.
What we did
Co-designing directly with stakeholders
We held multiple sessions with key stakeholders of The Old Rectory to directly map out the problems and opportunities. Our research indicated that the main issues hindering broader public use of The Old Rectory are access to the site and funding.
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What we did
Research to Understand the Local Community
To better understand the local community and gather qualitative insights, we employed a combination of desktop research, user interviews, service safaris, and workshops. Our research helped to define and refine critical insights and areas of interest.
We found that The Old Rectory suffered from the following issues:
- Lack of visibility
- Absence of food and drink offerings on-site
- Negative, or indifferent public perception of the site
Developing service concepts for the whole family
We analysed our data and used 'How Might We' questions to brainstorm ideas for repurposing The Old Rectory building, and gardens.
Using a SCAMPER analysis, we tested concepts, sparked discussions, and identified potential opportunities and conflicts. Additionally, extra service safaris and community surveys helped us explore and validate our concepts.
The outcome
The Retreat: An activity park for everyone:
The Retreat is a fresh community hub, centred on families. It features an outdoor gym, urban bouldering area, children's play park, and cafe.
