The flow through the building is an important part of the layout
and starts from the main entrance which reinstates the southern
doorway as the front door, just as the original church design
intended. From here there is a generous reception space adjacent
the baptistry and font.
The route through the building then guides people down the
nave with the sloping floor being retained. The main living
accommodation is focused on either side of the nave which remains
full height and open to the timber hammer beam roof above. Within
these side aisles are family rooms separated by dividing partitions
and accessed through sliding doors set into glazed screens. The
glazing visually connects the nave and the aisle rooms whilst still
allowing for separation and different uses in smaller spaces.
At the eastern end of the church, the kitchen provides the main
focal point and is situated in the chancery in place of the altar.
This family gathering space bookends the layout of the building
and celebrates its position beneath the large stained glass window.
The existing chancery steps are retained which gives the kitchen an
elevation position with all encompassing views back down the nave.
The kitchen also has easy links to the adjacent living space behind
the organ and flows on from a formal dining space at the end of
the nave. This arrangement also allows for kitchen services to drop
down into the basement level which sits directly below.
At first floor level bedrooms and bathrooms are located within the
aisles above the living spaces below and are open to the timber roof
above with the beams left exposed as feature ceilings. These rooms
are accessed via gallery walkways which run around the edge of
the nave and entered through glazed screens set within the original
stone arches. The glass allows for views out to the nave and borrows
light from the central body of the church. Additional natural light is
provided to the bedrooms via conservation rooflights.
A central feature staircase leads up to first floor level and brings
people onto a bridge spanning over the nave below. A secondary
spiral staircase provides access up from the kitchen area to the
walkway. An open mezzanine level if provided directly above the
kitchen mainly to be used as summertime relaxation space with
the main stained glass window providing a spectacular feature
backdrop.
A higher level mezzanine containing the master bedroom is set
underneath the rose window at the eastern end of the nave and
is accessed via a spiral staircase which connects this level back to
the first floor gallery walkway. This high level mezzanine provides
exceptional views back down the whole church and will provide
close up views of the spectacular roof above.
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