Brief

The RC Diocese of Middlesbrough is seeking to centralise its assets in Guisborough by constructing a new (replacement) Church and Community facility within the grounds of its existing Primary School.  This will provide a centralised focal point for the community and provide the greatest possible opportunity for enhancing the links between school, church and the wider community in Guisborough. 

Solution

The Church use is the primary function of the building and current liturgical design guidelines encourages maximum interaction between priest and congregation during the various types of services which will be held there.
 The radial “fan” shape proposed is a natural solution to achieve this and has therefore dictated the shape and form of the building. i.e. form follows function.
 It is natural for the form of the fan shape to increase in height from the (low) entrance position toward the (high) rear of the Church.
 Thus the combination of shape and height explain the simple form of the building and allows the roof form to be expressed both internally and externally in the Nave of the Church, whilst the ancillary and circulation areas are to be located more appropriately under the lower roof areas.

 The curved frontage of the proposed building provides a more appropriate relationship with both the School building and the access road which leads past the building to the proposed rear car park.

Client

RC Diocese of Middlesbrough

Project value

£1.5M