Newsletter - Links - Advertise - Contact Us - Privacy
 

Long dormant Italian Centre unit retrofitted to serve as a church HQ

February 7 2022

Long dormant Italian Centre unit retrofitted to serve as a church HQ

A former shop unit at 49 Cochrane Street in Glasgow, which has lain empty for over a decade, has begun a new life as an accessible headquarters for the Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway, part of the Scottish Episcopal Church.

The 310sq/m commercial space in the B-listed Italian Centre, last in use as an office by Page\Park Architects, has been retrofitted by Graeme Nicholls Architects to provide a flexible environment for working and gathering over basement and ground floors.

The key to the design brief was to avoid any residual commercial or institutional appearance from any prior use of the space, resulting in the adoption of stone, timber, metalwork and patterned glass arranged in a cruciform plan.

In a statement, Graeme Nicholls wrote: "Relocating the existing stair to the centre of the plan was a key strategic move.This change provides a natural break between staff and public spaces and allows light into the plan core. In addition, we have considered changing use patterns for the Diocesan Centre, particularly how the Diocesan team will work post-pandemic, and have therefore designed-in flexibility to allow the Centre to adapt to future needs. For example, we added a lift and accessible toilet accommodation to make the unit more accessible to staff and visitors."

The commission is the result of an invited competition from 2019. 

 The 310sq/m space has been reconfigured to provide accommodation over ground and basement levels
The 310sq/m space has been reconfigured to provide accommodation over ground and basement levels
A feature staircase connects the reception to a meeting room, kitchen and offices on the lower level
A feature staircase connects the reception to a meeting room, kitchen and offices on the lower level

All photography by Mack Studio
All photography by Mack Studio
Detailed carpentry work and open plan spaces regulate the passage of light into the cruciform plan
Detailed carpentry work and open plan spaces regulate the passage of light into the cruciform plan

Post your comments

 

All comments are pre-moderated and
must obey our house rules.

 

Back to February 2022

Search News
Subscribe to Urban Realm Magazine
Features & Reports
For more information from the industry visit our Features & Reports section.