Lighthouse London Church
Extension and refurbishment of mid-century church
The original church on the Finchley Road site was founded in 1871 as a community church for the working classes. However, the large Victorian structure was demolished in 1964 and the site broken up with a smaller church taking its place.
The new proposals respond to London Lighthouse Church’s need to evolve which is inhibited by the ailing fabric and insufficient space. To extract the most from the brief, including a challenging budget, the design strategy is a delicate blend of retention, refurbishment and extension. The proposal retains as much of the useful existing structure as possible but extends where practical to increase space, whilst improving the church's visibility and accessibility.
At the heart of the building will be the main Worship space, enlarged to seat a congregation up to 250. The front of the building is lowered to provide public access at street level. The entrance will be located at the north/east corner, which is directly opposite Finchley Road tube station. A double height cafe/reception runs the width of the building at ground floor - a welcoming social space for community gathering. New flexible spaces, and a recording studio are located on the floor above. These will provide valuable accommodation for young church members but also increases the building mass at the front, helping to fill the gap between the church's taller neighbours.
The facade has a purity and simplicity that will distinguish it against the surrounding buildings, embodying the spiritual essence of the church's mission and enhancing its civic presence. Slender columns divide the glazed bays to support and elevate the floor above which is faced with stone bricks. Insulated render wraps around the church, bridging new build and refurbished areas to create a coherent whole. The fabric upgrade are complemented by new systems throughout to significantly reduce energy use.
Client
Lighthouse London Church
Status
Planning
Sector
Culture
