Sherwood Greenlaw Church

ata Studio

Category: Small Works

Commendation

Located on a prominent corner site in Paisley, Sherwood Greenlaw is a beautiful B-listed Victorian Church built in red sandstone. Our addition of an elegant glass pavilion provides a welcoming and transparent accessible entrance, symbolizing a Church with no walls.

A steel structure has allowed us to create this delicate gathering space which contrasts to the solid mass of the Church. The majority of the structure is left as the exposed finish giving an honesty and simplicity to the design. Although modern and new our design is sympathetic to the existing church. Red sandstone provides plinth and floor surfaces whilst a sensitive roof edge adopts the level of the existing stringcourse. The pavilion roof is punctured in two places with enormous conical roof lights which echo the copper spire, providing puddles of light on the floor inside and out.

The large overhanging roof provides shading to the pavilion from the south as well as shelter over the ramp which is enclosed to the south side with a galvanized metal planter which also acts as a handrail. A large gate provides security when locked in the closed position but doubles as a handrail when open. The geometry of the curved pavilion is carried through to the detail with the vertical flat bars of the gate being arrayed from the centre point of the curve. Internally the space is furnished with a curved timber bench which hovers above the floor