Floating Church, Stratford

A mobile place for worship and community activities

Floating Church. — Floating Church. Credit: Murray Kerr

Denizen Works for Diocese of London
Contract value: undisclosed
GIA: 45m²

A bespoke wide-beam narrowboat with a pop-up roof is a mobile place for worship and community activities within a developing riverine neighbourhood. It has a kitchen, office, accessible toilet and an assembly space with a capacity of 60. There are built-in storage benches, a flat-pack altar angled like the prow of a boat, and aluminium window screens inspired by rood screens. The kinetic roof, inspired by organ bellows, is made from concertinaed, translucent sailcloth lined with LEDs and powered by hydraulic rams, transforming the barge into an illuminated beacon.

Floating Church. Credit: Murray Kerr
Floating Church. Credit: Murray Kerr
Floating Church. Credit: Murray Kerr
Floating Church. Credit: Murray Kerr
Credit: Gilbert McCarragher
Credit: Gilbert McCarragher
Credit: Gilbert McCarragher

See the rest of the London shortlists here. And all the RIBA Regional Awards shortlists here

Inhabiting generous external spaces, business parks, as well as diversifying the building uses, could create a richer more communal centre as Apt’s concept sketch shows.

Business parks are ripe for a resurgence

29 July 2021

The unloved out-of-town compound could play a key role in establishing new workplace models

Region:: United Kingdom

More:: Business Park; Workplace; Apt Architects; British Council for Offices; Reading; 15-minute city; Offices; Places planning & community; Business clients & services; James Ewen

SLETH’s copper-clad and Douglas fir-lined Author’s House

29 July 2021

A house for a writer, what book does it conjure up?

Region:: Europe

More:: Design construction & technology; SLETH; Denmark; Jutland; Copper; Timber; Materials; Morten Birk Jørgensen; Royal Danish Academy

Page of Consents: Improvement and environment dominate planning decisions

28 July 2021

For or against, all sides draw sustainability to their cause

Region:: United Kingdom

More:: Places planning & community; AHMM; FCBStudios; Garry Steward Design Associates; John Roberts Architects; Extinction Rebellion; Sustainable architecture; Restoration; Refurbishment; Lincoln; Cardiff; Will Jennings; London; Energy centre; Office; Sport & leisure; Retail; Civic realm