We had a meeting in the Hall at which the architects described different approaches to the planning of our site here at St. James'. At this stage, we are not talking about one specific proposal, but looking at a whole range of possible options in order to get a sense of the most important issues facing the community. The architect has produced six different options, in order to stimulate debate about these issues. We would like you to look at e various approaches and to comment on the strengths and weaknesses of each one. You may have s tions that the architect has missed. The point is not to choose one option, but to allow each one to prompt you to say what is most important from your point of view. By doing this. we may arrive at unexpected ideas and solutions. The following notes are intended to help you to understand the rough sketches made by the architect and to understand the principles that inform each option.
- Key diagram: The circle divided into eight segments is simply a colour key to the other sketches. It shows the key components of the building as different coloured symbols: The church, the hall, the nursery, the garden &c.
- Orientation Diagram: The second circle indicates the points of the compass, with north always at the top of the page. This helps you to orient the different diagrams. It shows additional information about where the sun is at different times of the day during the seasons. The days are much longer in summer and the sun moves further around in the sky. Certain rooms really benefit from a sunny outlook. Some rooms prefer morning light to evening light.
Arrangements: This drawing shows different options for the relationship between the altar and the community. The arrangement of furniture is critical in this relationship. We are interested in your views on which options give the best balance between visibility. proximity, sense of gathering and flexibility.
Option One
In this option, we demolish the existing church and hall, the priests' house is a Listed building and it must be retained. We propose a new square outside the church on the Elm Grove side and the Bellenden Road side. This is for people to linger and gather after the mass as they are coming out. The church is a shallow space with the altar facing east. One end of the church is an entrance space, opening off Elm Grove, the other end is a hall which faces south onto a garden. The nursery is accessed from the Bellenden Road side and it opens into its own secure garden. The new priests' house faces the square on Elm Grove.
Option Two
In this option, we keep the shell of the existing church, but use it for new purposes. It contains the hall and the priest's house. It even contains a little courtyard in the centre of the building. There is now a large amount of car parking shown off Bellenden Road. We no longer have the two little paved squares. A new church is built at the very south end of the site, with gardens around it. In this option you have to walk through the site to get to the church.
Option Three
Here, as in Option 1, the site is cleared and we build all new buildings. The church and hall are strongly linked together at the centre of the site and the church looks into its own special garden. It may even be possible for the church to have big glass windows and look out into this garden so that the interior extends right out to nature. In this option, we have two entrance squares again, but now the nursery faces west towards Bellenden Road.
Option Four
In this option we might retain or demolish the old church, depending on the budget and how the project develops. The church has a glazed lobby opening onto Elm Grove, which will make the interior very visible from the street. The priests' house and the nursery open off the Bellenden Road entrance square. The hall is connected to the church and it opens to a garden to the south-east. The church is based on the shallow ellipse or 'eye' shape that seems to optimise the balance of proximity to the altar with a sense of gathering around.
Option Five
Here we build a new circular church at the centre of the site with gardens all around it. The building is entered through the hall which faces a small front lawn onto Elm Grove. The priests' house also faces onto this lawn. The lawn is separated from the street by low railings with a gate. So it is like a formal front garden. The nursery is built off the Bellenden Road entrance.
Option Six
In this option, we retain the existing church and extend it with a long cloister or ambulatory stretching north/south through the site. We build a new hall onto the church at the south end. And a nursery is connected to the hall at the south-west corner of the site. We have reintroduced the little square facing Bellenden Road and it provides access to the priests' house, the hall, the church and the nursery.
COMMENTS
Please write or sketch your suggestions and comments in this space and return it by next Sunday. If you would like to make-further comments, please leave your contact details and we can arrange for you to come to our meetings.
