Urban Conversion

A new lease of life for a rundown church hall.

This dark and dingy old meeting place was haunted by the design constraints of its era, and bringing it renewed life in its contemporary urban environment was a great pleasure. The client was looking to create an office headquarters conducive to the efficient running of a modern business.

The chief design constraint was access to natural light and finding a way for sunlight to penetrate to a dungeon-like ground floor. Good positioning of a new roof opening over a glass floor panel floods daylight to both the open plan space as well as the ground floor offices below. The extensive use of glass has helped “bounce” natural daylight around the various spaces very effectively.

Finding additional space was a challenge answered through the design of a simple but effective mezzanine level, and sliding walls on the ground floor have given the office the ultimate in flexibility for working and business purposes. Relocating the hygiene facilities allowed for external windows to bring fresh air to the ground floor.

In this project, contemporary design principals of light and ventilation, combine to create a pleasing blend of urban aesthetics, practical function and day-lighting as nature intended.