'New Community Meeting Room Within Existing Church'
'A functional and attractive design'
Grade 1 St Mary was vested in the Churches Conservation Trust in 1981 and has since served as a venue for community events, visitor attraction and landmark.
Inkpen Downie was asked to provide facilities that would make the building functional for concerts and community events, attractive for small groups and seminars, and to retain the religious ceremonial function it still provides to the community.
By use of 3D modelling the team were able to explore alternatives for slotting the accommodation into the interior and to enter into discussions with all of the stake-holders.
The agreed design was a flexible space inserted across the west end. By using different combinations of doors and screens this can operate as a self-contained room or support the use of the larger space.
The whole project had to be designed, approvals obtained and started on site to a rigorous timetable in order to fit in with the grant programme of the RDPE Leader Fund.
