Village Scale
Located at 1923 Fernwood Road in Victoria, BC, this building began as a 1909 Edwardian house and gained its two-storey brick-and-stucco commercial block front in 1914. It is a neighborhood gathering place. Distinct from the larger community center ("Big Fernwood"), Paul Phillips Hall and the Little Fernwood Hub occupy a small storefront space that blends arts, activism, and community gathering.
Activist Roots
Named after Paul Phillips (1933-2012), a pioneer of the cooperative housing and food security movements, the venue operates on a "low barrier" mandate. This ensures affordable access for grassroots groups, ranging from punk shows and experimental theatre to political solidarity meetings like Cafe Simpatico.
The "Black Box"
The facility centers on a 60-seat black box theatre, the long-time home of Theatre Inconnu. Despite its small footprint, it is a fully equipped performance space with a professional lighting grid and PA system, serving as a critical testing ground for emerging artists across the region.
"Third Place" Identity
The venue features large storefront windows that allow activities like yoga and art workshops to be visible from the street, reinforcing its function as a transparent "Third Place" where the boundary between public and private space is dissolved.