Elements are bold; the feel is of calm reverence
Design Engine Architects for University of Winchester
Contract value: £800,000
GIA: 210m²
In this restoration and extension of the university’s Victorian but unlisted chapel, the jury was pleased to see an unlisted building being treated as a heritage asset to be cared for. The additions enhance the whole, and are readily distinct from the original.
A new lobby has a sculptural altar and font within it, with the uncovering of the roof and a tile backdrop to the altar revealing a richness that had been lost through insensitive additions. A new vestry and chapel space use natural light to dramatic effect. While elements are bold, the feel is of calm reverence. Architecturally, the new north side addition is a ‘jewel’ at the heart of the campus, clad in gold anodised aluminium, with a tapering and twisted roof pitch. A clever project, with an impact beyond its scale.
See the other winners of the RIBA Regional Awards 2017 - South