London Wren Church Reinvented
Published on 22-08-2008 by Skyscrapernews.com
There are thousands of churches across the United Kingdom, so numerous we take them for granted as part of our urban landscape, with many of them protected by heritage organizations.
As Christian worship continues to decline the question has been what to do with them all. A church isn't the easiest space to convert into modern use, not least because it is centered around one big central area, but many are converted successfully into nightclubs or expensively into apartments.
Plans for St Nicholas Cole Abbey in the City of London have come with an idea on how to reinvent the church for the 21st century and still retain its religious use, a rare end result, by being turned into a multi-denominational centre for religious education.
Originally built in 1144, conversion will be helped by the fact that the Blitz left the church a completely gutted shell after World War 2 and it was fully rebuilt inside over subsequent years.
As the new headquarters for the Religious Education Council and the Culham Institute, it will be refitted to allow modern office laid over three floors, not only for the main occupier but also other religious organizations. Seminar space and exhibition is also included.
The scheme will retain much of the existing Christopher Wren designed interior and rebuilt it after the Great Fire of London in 1666. The new rooms will basically be built in a freestanding box and divided into partitions within the main space of the building. Fixtures such as the roof bosses, wooden paneling and chandeliers will remain. A new restaurant is also planned for the site that promises to be a unique dining experience in London.
Planning gain for the general public will be obvious as London will see a currently empty Christopher Wren church reopened for everyone to enjoy.
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