July 2 2019

Wilson + Gunn Studio is spearheading plans for a new church and community centre within the grounds of the former Bellsdyke Hospital, Larbert, much of which has now given over to new housing.

Occupying the site of a former administration block, the retained façade for which was demolished in 2018, Grace Church will present its front face toward MacIntyre Avenue with the main entrance defined by a triple-height sanctuary space.

In a statement the architects observed: “The brief called for a distinctive building with an open inviting appearance, bringing interaction and life where it interfaces with McIntyre Avenue.

“Internally the building is designed around a central ‘meet and greet’ social space which provides access to the café area, crèche and the other accommodation beyond.”

Finished predominantly in white render and Trespa panels the facility aims to create a ‘bold landmark’ within its suburban setting with a fully glazed café spilling out onto the street.

11 Comments

#1 Posted by boaby wan on 2 Jul 2019 at 11:51 AM

Well, you can't disagree that it's certainly distinctive.
Do they have any visuals of the stage 2 proposals once the site portakabins have been removed?

#2 Posted by CM on 2 Jul 2019 at 14:51 PM

Check out that bin hub and car-dominated environment.

#3 Posted by Gadarenes on 2 Jul 2019 at 17:31 PM

What an amazing brief, but what an utterly bowfing building!

Surely the architects should be doing a lot better with this?

#4 Posted by Preacher Dave on 3 Jul 2019 at 08:55 AM

Let yee who are without sin cast the first stone....oh I see you've started already.
anyway back to the building....er...um......fire away!

#5 Posted by boaby wan on 3 Jul 2019 at 11:24 AM

How many Hail Mary's for calling it out Dave?
(and how many for the designers?)

#6 Posted by Lorraine Cunningham on 3 Jul 2019 at 22:40 PM

No consideration what so ever to offer light and sunshine to those apartments surrounding the proposed Church build !!! The height of the Church is going to be in excess of 13 metres high !!! Absolute selfishness ????

#7 Posted by Stuart Cunningham on 3 Jul 2019 at 22:41 PM

This proposal offers no consideration to people staying in the area. The God given light that is around us will be cut out and shows a lack of care and equality. The architect has followed his brief and given no chance to those who already stay in this street. Darkness ensues. Extremely dismayed. Please make comment to Falkirk Council Planning Department.

#8 Posted by Ritchie Cunningham on 4 Jul 2019 at 10:42 AM

Don't worry fam, we can get Arthur to take on these bucko's.

#9 Posted by Neil C on 4 Jul 2019 at 11:10 AM

A striking and largely sympathetic addition to the local surroundings. Surely the buyers of the south-facing apartment buildings opposite were expecting the facade to be restored into a building that might also have blocked out light for part of the day?

The loss of that red sandstone facade remains unforgivable. It would have been a far more appropriate tie-in with the historic Bellsdyke site. If only it hadn't been left to rot for decades...

#10 Posted by Sven on 10 Jul 2019 at 11:50 AM

@#9

The last remaining part of the old Bellsdyke hospital was blonde sandstone and not red. The planned building is not sympathetic to the apartment buildings - as the image blurs that to the north making it look more modern and bland than it really is. The heart of a community is not a cult church. A vacant piece of grass adds more than this cult church and a pub or expansion to the shopping area would add to the community.

#11 Posted by DENIS ROBERT SHOVLIN on 29 Jul 2022 at 01:19 AM

I spoke to councilor Bouse about the community council, and he suggested that Larbert Stenhousemuir and Torwood community council be split into 2 areas: Larbert Torwood and Inches and Stenhousemuir and Kinnaird as the other one which will cover the area in question. As a graduate of Divinity, the proposed church in question is too narrow and blinkered regarding its theology. Today we live in a multicultural and pluralist society, where we must embrace all people. It appears the building is out of place amidst the surrounding environment. I spoke to Brian Pirie about this so hopefully either this year or next year we can establish a community council. From my experience, people's power can break down the leviathans of the world, like the big builders,

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