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May 2018
‘Discreet’ modernisation eliminates barriers at Pleasance community venue

‘Discreet’ modernisation eliminates barriers at Pleasance community venue

May 17 2018

An Edinburgh community centre is in line for sorely needed modernisation with the submission of plans to provide improved access and new facilities to help further the work of Greyfriars Kirk in eliminating barriers to involvement.

Greyfriars Charteris Centre occupies a former church on the corner of the Pleasance and Brown Street and now directly connected to the neighbouring St Ninian’s Centre. Located within the Southside conservation area it suffers from a design and layout which hinders its activities.

To that end Konishi Gaffney Architects have been brought on board to address current constraints, bringing a ‘light-touch’ solution which emphasises ‘materials, simple details and practical solutions such as improved access, circulation, services and lighting.

This approach is led by a new physical connection between both wings of accommodation to form a new main entrance, enlarging a nave window to street level and formation of ramped access off Brown Street. Internally a new stair is proposed which would double as a flexible social space, opening up the basement for productive use.

Explaining their ‘discreet’ approach the architects wrote: “The infill building between the church and the St Ninian’s Centre offices is a tall narrow and vertically proportioned (10m tall by 3.6m wide). We’re proposing a positive and architecturally strong element between the two buildings. We see this as distinct and materially different from the existing buildings but something that can still link between the two.”

This infill will be finished in limestone with judicious use of vertical timber fins to enliven the facade.

A newly installed lift will offer access to all levels

The nave window will be cut down to street level to flood the gloomy interior with light

5 Comments

#1 Posted by mick on 17 May 2018 at 14:50 PM

Urban Design...this is such an improvement on previous servings....quality architecture at last.

#2 Posted by A.W. Pugin on 17 May 2018 at 16:42 PM

#1 Agreed.
Modern Gothick, or wouldn't look out of place in a Monograph on Spanish Modernism, but in saying that, decidedly northern European.
Good stuff.

#3 Posted by Sven on 17 May 2018 at 17:13 PM

The link building looks very 1960-70s and adds nothing visually. If anything it detracts.

Opening up the window is a good modernising idea but this is mauled by the weird boxes internally which look terrible from the inside. This is not good architecture.

#4 Posted by Sven on 17 May 2018 at 17:40 PM

^meant outside as inside it looks fine.