St Luke's
Church
A contemporary new build Anglican church on a steeply sloping site in Winchester.
We worked with Winchester Diocese and the PCC to explore how a new replacement church could be built at the heart of a Winchester suburb. The scheme includes a significant enabling development of affordable housing which we negotiated through a proactive pre-app process with the local council.
The new church perches at the top of the slope, at a key interface between two distinct neighbourhoods. The sanctuary cantilevers over the lower ground floor carpark. The primary volume is wrapped in a dynamic and ornate filigree of translucent mesh that floats metaphorically like a 'cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night'. The faceted sculptural form also reduces the perceived scale of the building and softens its impact on the adjacent housing.
The building is strongly connected to its context. Large picture windows frame views to the South Downs National Park and surrounding trees, streets and footpaths. The result is a tranquil place to worship at the heart of the community and well connected with its setting.
The building cleverly frames in the natural context and frames out adjacent buildings to create a church sanctuary that appears to floats within nature.
The new church is located on elevated ground and addresses public realm on all sides. The concept is conceived as a simple sloping volume that is cut and carved in response to the site constraints and opportunities to define entrance and embrace views of the surrounding landscape. This creates a highly dynamic form that directly responds to the community in which it sits.
The new church is set into the slope with the main sanctuary both entered at ground level and projecting out over the slope, framing views to the Southdown National Park.
Initial Artists Impression
The new church is prominently placed at the heart of its community.
A welcoming entrance addresses the street corner
A dynamic double height entrance draws people in with framed views through the sanctuary to the hills beyond
The church emerges between the trees
The church fronts an important public footpath
Carefully orientated picture frame openings in the primary volume create a highly transparent and inviting building
The three storey scale of the building is not perceived.
The plans for the new church were refined in collaboration with the PCC, as their requirements developed, technical requirements and in alignment with the project budget. The overall design concept was retained throughout.
Lower Ground Floor Plan
Ground Floor Plan
First Floor Plan
Section
The building represents a welcoming, warm, confident and contemporary expression of Church...