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Scheme for Our Lady of
Lourdes Church and adjacent houses
Hungerford, UK
In our proposal for the redevelopment of Our Lady of Lourdes Church for
the Hungerford and Lambourn parish, we have proposed a building, which
consists of simple forms and materials, animated inside by light. The
new church is placed within a planted walled garden to preserve the tranquillity
of the existing site. Simple, monumental construction is proposed: brick
walls, a lead roof and aluminium window frames and rainwater pipes that
provide long-term durability and low maintenance. The houses, which are
part of the overall scheme, are of the same construction and positioned
so as to draw the two original cottages on the other side of the street
into a cohesive arrangement.
The Church faces east and presents its bell tower and sanctuary to the
street. The congregation would approach on foot through the garden, leaving
their cars in the court. Wedding and funeral cars would enter through
the garden in a dignified fashion, through landscaping and away from the
parked cars.
The Priest can enter through a private door directly to the sacristy.
The entrance to the church, the narthex, is a glazed porch where the people
can congregate and speak to the Priest on departure.
On the West side is the church hall which opens to the rear garden and
is linked to the main body of the church by sliding acoustic doors. It
provides an additional 48 seats increasing the capacity of parishioners
to 250.
On entering the Church there is a direct view of the baptistery, seen
in a recess in the north wall. Further along the confessional is set back
from the main body of the church for discretion and quietness. At the
eastern end of the Church is the sacristy with a high space above. To
these three elements light comes from above through stained glass.
Current Status: Design proposal
Client: Hungerford and Lambourn parish