True to its name, the new community hall at St Laurence Church, Alvechurch, takes the form of an elliptical ‘Ark’.
The parishioners of St Laurence church wanted a new community hall for over a decade. After nine years of fund-raising they found a design solution that met their requirements and won the approval of various regulatory bodies.
The Ark, which is joined to the Church via a glazed link, confidently contrasts with its Grade II listed neighbour, parts of which date back to the 13th Century.
The existing church was substantially re-built in the 19th century by William Butterfield, the eminent Victorian Gothic Revival architect. Butterfield embraced the Ecclesiological doctrine and he reinterpreted the Gothic language into contemporary forms to meet the functional and spiritual needs of his buildings.
Butterfield's contemporary forms inside the existing church are expressed in the design of the nave and chancel. These have been constructed using arcades of sandstone together with red brick walls relieved by white brick diapering; a style much evident in Butterfield's buildings.
It was this detailing that influenced the design of the Ark's front and rear elevations, which have been constructed using curved diaphragm walls, with hand-made red brick and Stanton Moor stone bands.
Sitting on concrete and raft foundations and a natural stone plinth, the diaphragm walls were constructed together with a full height 8m curved glazed wall. The glulam roof structure is curved through 2 planes and is clad with terned stainless steel.
The Ark provides a large community hall on the ground floor, which is overlooked by a 1st floor meeting room. Toilets, a kitchen and an office have also been created, together with a large undercroft storage area.
The completed building is seen as a valuable addition to the community, bringing St Laurence Church into the 21st Century.
Challenges and solutions
The building was constructed on a sacred saxon burial site and as such the foundations had to be excavated under an archeological watching brief.
During the groundworks, considerable care had to be taken to minimise disturbance to remains.
The roof structure was curved through 2 planes, which made it one of the most complex elements to build. Beard had to work within very tight tolerances when setting out.
Careful co-ordination was required to manage all specialist trades within a large open plan space.
“The design of the Ark was a challenge to any building contractor, to construct in brick and stone what the Architect had conceived on paper. Beard have risen to the challenge. The Ark can now be seen as an example of the builder's craft, a building that will be used and viewed with appreciation for generations to come.”
Gordon Griffiths, Chairman of the Committee
Customer The PCC of St Laurence Church
Architect Michael Reardon & Associates, Alcester, Warwickshire
