Simpson & Brown table expansion plans for New Town chapel
May 19 2016
The gothic church sits within the New Town conservation area, necessitating a low impact approach for the new build elements to protect existing views.
Working with an architectural language of stone buttresses the extension will feature areas of narrow glazing around a relocated entrance on a vacant plot to the side of the chapel.
In their design statement the architects observed: “To create interest and some visual links, glazing has been set into the wall at the column locations which are expressed externally after the manner of the roof beams, almost as a negative of the existing buttresses. The glazing extent increases in each successive bay; the rhythm created emphasising the progression towards the main entrance.
“The new entrance is designed to be visible and welcoming. It is barrier free, leading to a multi-use space where users of the building can congregate. The building envelope, which at this point is fully glazed, is protected by a curving canopy and signage and events notices and screens are incorporated into the layout.”
An additional roof pitch will also be inserted between two existing roofs to the west to carve out more first floor space.
The new extension takes its cue from buttresses present in the current gothic chapel
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12 Comments
#2 Posted by classarchitect on 19 May 2016 at 13:03 PM
As a (very) local I think this will be quite a nice addition. The existing entrance on the street is fairly awkward so you can see why they want a more prominent and welcoming/accessible one. The articulation and mix of materials works well. Assuming the glass will be more like the main image rather than the close up which suggests tinted glass...
#3 Posted by FHM on 19 May 2016 at 15:25 PM
0 Points: Nonsensical, repetitive ramblings, that make little sense whilst written in poorly constructed, "vernacular" text.
1 Point: "Concrete modernism". / "Modernist concrete ideals"
2 Points: "concrete lovin' brigade" / "lefties"
3 Points: "But hey, at least thur no pastiche."
7 Points: "Motherwell Polytechnic"
Wow! 13 Points in such a short rambling post by Big Chantelle. Impressive. I think we need more points for references to Christianity. Until the next post.
1 Point: "Concrete modernism". / "Modernist concrete ideals"
2 Points: "concrete lovin' brigade" / "lefties"
3 Points: "But hey, at least thur no pastiche."
7 Points: "Motherwell Polytechnic"
Wow! 13 Points in such a short rambling post by Big Chantelle. Impressive. I think we need more points for references to Christianity. Until the next post.
#4 Posted by Yaldy on 20 May 2016 at 09:47 AM
#3 to be fair...
Taking away considerations of economics, timescale/deadlines, materials, responsibility, design brief etc.
look at the difference in artistic terms between the old church and what's proposed. I often have sympathy with BC's POV
Taking away considerations of economics, timescale/deadlines, materials, responsibility, design brief etc.
look at the difference in artistic terms between the old church and what's proposed. I often have sympathy with BC's POV
#5 Posted by Dalgety Bay Polytechnic on 20 May 2016 at 09:59 AM
This feels a bit clunky/ awkward in it's context - i'm not convinced referencing the buttresses has been pulled off elegantly enough.
The entrance itself seems to work.
The entrance itself seems to work.
#6 Posted by boaby wan on 20 May 2016 at 10:04 AM
wow, BC doesn't even like the work of one of the foremost conservation architecture practices in Scotland - is no one safe from the lefty, concrete modernist tag?
#7 Posted by Wren's City Crutches on 20 May 2016 at 13:02 PM
Mies' Crown Hall Chicago is one thing, whereas this external structural expression (real or pseudo?) is more akin to a portacabin at this scale.
Why not a simply elegant understated complementary design to that of the context of the church?
Why this way over-articulated design?
Why? - because they're architects - that's why.
Why not a simply elegant understated complementary design to that of the context of the church?
Why this way over-articulated design?
Why? - because they're architects - that's why.
#8 Posted by Big Chantelle on 20 May 2016 at 13:51 PM
Tae Boaby in post #6
Yer post illustrates ma point perfectly. Ye make nae mention ae the intrinsic merits ae thu architeshure: instead ye reduce the success ae whit's being proposed doon tae the supposed reputashun ae the firm producin it.
Unliker yersel, a actually LOOK ut the architeshure. A study it. Whit is being prosed here is a dumbed doon mess and as wan poster above correctlay noted, just look it thu difference in quality between thu chapel an the extenshun. Why should the latter be poorer? Why? Ur ppl today no deserving ae gid architeshure?
I couldnae gee a flying you know whit if these peepz are wan ae Scotland's foremost this or that. It means nuthin tae me. I call a spade a spade. I dinnae worship ut the altur ae reputashun.
Funnily ebuff tho, if this wiz a mosque being extended I bet the architects widnae be so above takin' a traditonalist approach tae respect the existing architecshure. Just some food (halal uv corse) food fur thot.
Yer post illustrates ma point perfectly. Ye make nae mention ae the intrinsic merits ae thu architeshure: instead ye reduce the success ae whit's being proposed doon tae the supposed reputashun ae the firm producin it.
Unliker yersel, a actually LOOK ut the architeshure. A study it. Whit is being prosed here is a dumbed doon mess and as wan poster above correctlay noted, just look it thu difference in quality between thu chapel an the extenshun. Why should the latter be poorer? Why? Ur ppl today no deserving ae gid architeshure?
I couldnae gee a flying you know whit if these peepz are wan ae Scotland's foremost this or that. It means nuthin tae me. I call a spade a spade. I dinnae worship ut the altur ae reputashun.
Funnily ebuff tho, if this wiz a mosque being extended I bet the architects widnae be so above takin' a traditonalist approach tae respect the existing architecshure. Just some food (halal uv corse) food fur thot.
#9 Posted by FHM on 20 May 2016 at 14:36 PM
0 Points: Nonsensical, repetitive ramblings, that make little sense whilst written in poorly constructed, "vernacular" text.
Damn. No points in this second round.
Urban Realm, do you now feel a bit embarrassed at publishing the views expressed by Big Chantelle in your national publication? Especially as recently they have been tinged in bigoted remarks with regards to religion?
Edit: "I dinnae worship ut the altur ae reputashun." Hahahaha. I wonder if the irony is blindsided by your bigoted views?
Damn. No points in this second round.
Urban Realm, do you now feel a bit embarrassed at publishing the views expressed by Big Chantelle in your national publication? Especially as recently they have been tinged in bigoted remarks with regards to religion?
Edit: "I dinnae worship ut the altur ae reputashun." Hahahaha. I wonder if the irony is blindsided by your bigoted views?
#10 Posted by Bonvivant on 20 May 2016 at 15:35 PM
It does, unfortunately, look like they've forgotten to remove the temporary needling.
#11 Posted by rankbadyin on 20 May 2016 at 15:54 PM
I assume there has been more than one Chantelle over the years. Wasn't he / she not writing in proper sentences about a year ago? Made a bit of sense too then; instead of this confused 2D character that breenges around the comments nowadays using pidgin English. Read some Jeff Torrington for vernacular that is at least understandable please. I don't like the direction this cartoon is being taken.
#12 Posted by Terra on 6 Jun 2016 at 04:15 AM
I agree with BC here. This is a jarring addition to a beautiful, historic building. That's not to say contemporary additions to old buildings can't work because they can but this is not a good example. It's lazy at best, disrespectful at worst. This is Edinburgh, for goodness sake, surely we have local legislation making sure any projects like this are done right. Help ma boab.
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Beautiful stane architecshure full ae considered and well crafted ornament. The chapel that is. It's noo getting a gless extension that hiz aw the architecshural merit ae a CR Smith discounted conservatory. Ach, but at least it's no pastiche............
Clearly the lefty architects nooadays dinnae actually represent or respect the traditions ae Christianity and its architeshure. I wish these buildings wur acshully being developed wae care an consideration and no by somewan fae Motherwell Polytechnics concrete modernist class ae '76 who couldnae care less.
No good enuff.