Church vs community centre and enterprise hub. Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects
12/08/2022.
[Edinburgh] UK
metalocus, ANDRÉS MATAS
metalocus, ANDRÉS MATAS
After winning an invitational competition, Konishi Gaffney Architects was commissioned to renovate this former church near the downtown a with Holyrood park as backstage, in Edinburgh.
The church was used as a place of worship from its opening in 1912 until 2013, reopening in 2016 as Greyfriars Charteris Centre. With its change of use came the need for a review of its circulation and accessibility, as well as a clear entry point.
The church was used as a place of worship from its opening in 1912 until 2013, reopening in 2016 as Greyfriars Charteris Centre. With its change of use came the need for a review of its circulation and accessibility, as well as a clear entry point.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Ground floor plan. Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects.
First floor plan. Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects.
Basement floor plan. Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects.
Second floor plan. Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects.
Section. Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects.
The project proposed by Konishi Gaffney had as its objective the transformation of this old church with historical value, into a community centre and open business centre, generating an inclusive space for the community compared to its original closed image.
The design aimed to physically and aesthetically unify the collection of buildings that had been gradually acquired over time paying attention to being sensitive to the historic fabric of the buildings.
The structure was opened up at street level by extending the length of the existing lancet windows, allowing passers-by to see the activities going on inside and encourage participation.
The building is now characterised by its new interior wood cladding and now contains a flexible workspace, event spaces and a non-denominational sanctuary.
The design aimed to physically and aesthetically unify the collection of buildings that had been gradually acquired over time paying attention to being sensitive to the historic fabric of the buildings.
The structure was opened up at street level by extending the length of the existing lancet windows, allowing passers-by to see the activities going on inside and encourage participation.
The building is now characterised by its new interior wood cladding and now contains a flexible workspace, event spaces and a non-denominational sanctuary.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Greyfriars Charteris Center by Konishi Gaffney Architects. Photograph by Nanne Springer.
Project description by Konishi Gaffney Architects
Konishi Gaffney Architects have completed the overhaul of Greyfriars Charteris Centre in Edinburgh’s city centre following an invited competition in 2017. The €2.01m refurbishment, improvement, and extension of the former church provides a flexible workspace, a community hub, events spaces, and a non-denominational sanctuary.
The building suffered from poor access across multiple levels and was closed off, invisible from the street. The design reconfigured the main entrance which has been carefully slotted in between parts of the existing building giving it a definite street presence externally and, internally, all parts of the building are visually opened up to the entrance hall, both horizontally and vertically, welcoming the visitor in, get their bearings and move on through the building.
The existing lancet windows were cut down and the space visually opened up to allow transparency through the building so that passers-by can see activity inside which encourages participation. A new tiered staircase and seating area was formed that serves both to create views through the building from the street and down to the level below and to connect the coworking hub with the community functions above. Konishi Gaffney worked closely with local specialists Old School Fabrications from an early stage to develop simple but effective details for the staircase and a material palette of maple, walnut nosings, and birch-faced plywood finished with a whitewash to enhance its light appearance. This was used throughout the building for all new elements such that they are visually distinct yet compliment the fabric of the existing church buildings.
A timber ‘link’ building was inserted between the church and the neighbouring office block forming a triple-height top-lit atrium with lift access to all levels. This was clad externally in white terrazzo panels with a sculptural relief pattern in collaboration with artist Steven Blench of Chalk Plaster. This was intended as a modern interpretation of the rusticated bases of the city’s Georgian buildings. The terrazzo panels are broken up at higher levels with a series of slender timber (Accoya) fins that give rhythm and order to the elevation.
Internally a restrained material pallet was used to characterize and unify the new joinery elements of the building: American maple, birch-faced plywood, and white plaster tied in with the pine ceiling of the main hall. The ceiling was stripped of its dark brown mahogany stain using a soda blasting technique which along with the careful lighting and new double glazing eloquently lightens the space. Dappled light filters through a 6m tall delicate maple screen that separates the hall from the new ‘all faiths and none sanctuary space above.
Along with the extensive use of timber in the project, significant improvements to the existing church building were made in terms of its environmental performance. This included the installation of loft and floor insulation and replacing the existing single-glazed pane windows with new double-glazed units including the large west-facing nave window. The original heating was replaced with an efficient system and low-energy LED lighting was fitted throughout. A 24kW solar array was installed on the building’s large south-facing roof, hidden from the street.
More information
Architects
Project team
Kieran Gaffney, Adam Williams, Ivan Fraile-Gisbert, Dana Cherepkova, Dee Farrell.
Collaborators
Sculptural Collaboration.- Chalk Plaster.
Structural Engineering.- Forshaw Gauld, Entuitive.
M&E.- Irons Foulner Consulting Engineers.
Quantity Surveyor.- Thomson Gray.
Lighting Design Consultant.- Francis Milloy.
Structural Engineering.- Forshaw Gauld, Entuitive.
M&E.- Irons Foulner Consulting Engineers.
Quantity Surveyor.- Thomson Gray.
Lighting Design Consultant.- Francis Milloy.
Client
Contractors
Main contractor.- SJS Property Services.
Joinery.- Old School Fabrications.
Glazing.- Gray & Dick.
Joinery.- Old School Fabrications.
Glazing.- Gray & Dick.
Dates
Competition.- 2017.
Completed.- 2022.
Completed.- 2022.
Location
138-140 Pleasance, Edinburgh EH8 9RR, UK.
Manufacturers
Cambridge Architectural Precast, Hall & Tawse.
Photography
Konishi Gaffney Architects
Konishi Gaffney architects is an architecture practice established by Kieran Gaffne, based in Edinburgh, UK. Kieran graduated from Strathclyde University in Glasgow with the school design prize in 1992 and went on to postgraduate study at the Bartlett, University College London. He has worked in Zimbabwe, Berlin, London, Japan and Edinburgh.
In 1998 Kieran started as the first employee and helped to develop the successful and award-winning architecture and design practice Heatherwick Studio.
In 2004 Kieran was selected to participate as the only non-Japanese teacher at a public high school in Japan. 3 years spent living and researching Japanese design followed, work which has inspired his thinking on architecture since. Kieran is married to Makiko Konishi, a Japanese designer and they have three children. They live and work in Edinburgh and are interested in all scales and types of building projects.
Specialities: Architecture, Japanese design, creative thinking.
Among his latest awards are:
2022 WINNER. RIAS Award: Lockerbie Sawmill.
2022 WINNER. Timber Award RIAS: Lockerbie Sawmill.
2021 GRAND. PRIX Scottish Design Awards: Lockerbie Sawmill.
2021 WINNER. Scottish Design Awards: Lockerbie Sawmill.
2021 WINNER. EAA Wood for Good: Lockerbie Sawmill.
2019 WINNER. EAA Small Projects Award: Blackford Road.
In 1998 Kieran started as the first employee and helped to develop the successful and award-winning architecture and design practice Heatherwick Studio.
In 2004 Kieran was selected to participate as the only non-Japanese teacher at a public high school in Japan. 3 years spent living and researching Japanese design followed, work which has inspired his thinking on architecture since. Kieran is married to Makiko Konishi, a Japanese designer and they have three children. They live and work in Edinburgh and are interested in all scales and types of building projects.
Specialities: Architecture, Japanese design, creative thinking.
Among his latest awards are:
2022 WINNER. RIAS Award: Lockerbie Sawmill.
2022 WINNER. Timber Award RIAS: Lockerbie Sawmill.
2021 GRAND. PRIX Scottish Design Awards: Lockerbie Sawmill.
2021 WINNER. Scottish Design Awards: Lockerbie Sawmill.
2021 WINNER. EAA Wood for Good: Lockerbie Sawmill.
2019 WINNER. EAA Small Projects Award: Blackford Road.
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