Design Buy Build Issue 32 2018 | Page 24

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. 24