Shelving with a selection wine bottles. A serving counter with a coffee making machine.

Listed Building Café Conversion

In the heart of East Street, a listed building that once served as offices now welcomes guests as 'The Thirsty Bird,' a warm and inviting espresso and wine bar. This listed building conversion undertaken by DMW Architects is a harmonious balance of respect for the building's historical fabric and modern café design.

Under the watchful eye of the Conservation Officer of East Dorset District Council, this conservation area architecture project sought to not only transform but breathe new life into the building. The principal feature of this adaptive re-use is the dramatic open mezzanine that connects the ground and first floor. This audacious design choice offers an expansive double-height space, punctuated with gallery seating, embodying the spirit of modern café design, and illuminating the entire establishment with a sense of openness and connectivity.

Listed building cafe interior. Red rick wall, slate floor, white chairs, natural light.
Shelving with a selection wine bottles. A serving counter with a coffee making machine.
Cafe corener seating area. Single chair with throw and palm plant in the corner.

Equally compelling was the commitment to expose and celebrate the original fabric of the building. A formerly hidden brick wall now takes pride of place, unveiled as a striking internal feature. Retaining a traditional post and lathe partition wall further anchors the building's history, all of which come together in a harmonious dance of old and new.

With the necessary planning and Listed Building Consent granted by East Dorset District Council in August 2016, the blueprint was set to convert the weary building into a bustling hub of the community. A detailed 3D model was instrumental in visualising internal spaces and integrating the building's original structure with interior design elements.

Since its doors swung open in January 2017, the 'Thirsty Bird' has risen from the echoes of the past to become a cosy, vibrant café; a hub that has etched its presence on Wimborne's cultural map.

Internal construction site of listed building. Exposed brick walls, red steel joists, internal wooden walls.
External view of a red brick listed building undergoing the a conversion into a cafe.
Wooden slats from a lath and plaster wall with natural sunlight.
Architectural CGI interior first floor layout. Seating, tables, cushions and stairway.
Architectural CGI interior ground floor layout. Main entrance, serving bar, seating, tables, cushions and stairway.
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