Set against Newark Castle, the Collaborative Arts Centre responds to its context with three pitched volumes, each framing views of historically significant parts of the site. Timber cladding softens the building's presence, while limestone intersections reference the castle’s stone, creating a respectful contrast between old and new. The public realm reinterprets the historic approach to a castle —moat, drawbridge, portcullis—through modern landscaping, maintaining a link to the site's past. Inspired by Nottingham’s Lace Market Creative Quarter, the design uses the concept of the 'street' to organise space, encouraging movement, interaction, and creative exchange.