Revitalising a Category-A listed church with a gesture of welcome to the community.
The Vision
Located within the Rutherglen Conservation Area, the church sits at the centre of Main Street and has become the cornerstone of the local catholic community since the establishment of the parish in 1851. The Category-A listed building, redesigned during the interwar period by Jack Coia of Gillespie, Kidd & Coia Architects, opened in 1940 as a striking modern interpretation of an Italian Romanesque basilica.
Despite its grand red brick façade and impressive volume, the entrance to the grounds lacked a convivial, inviting presence. Level access was previously located to the side of the church, up a steep ramp that challenged those without additional assistance.
We were approached to reimagine the entry to the church, creating a new community-focused planted piazza, bringing greenery and ready access to the church.
The Process
In collaboration with landscape architect, Mark Donaldson, we completed a transformative landscape renewal for St Columbkille’s Church. Our work greatly improves accessibility and reimagines the external as a convivial piazza to democratise access and enhance the arrival experience, welcoming all to the church.
Red brick paving extends from the street, gently transitioning the public space to the church over a considered, continuous threshold. At the heart of the scheme is a new gradient ramp, integrated around curved York stone steps, which allows for barrier-free entry. We drew inspiration from the church’s internal proportions, taking the cues from the vast semi-circular sanctuary to create the new stepped and ramped entrance. Additionally, introducing soft planting beds break up the hardscaping and brick exterior too
The Conclusion
Our approach marries historical reverence with modern accessibility, setting a precedent for future conservation projects.
The new additions respect the architectural significance of St Columbkille’s and breathe new life into its surroundings, making it a focal point for the community.
The results
