St John's Church

Altrincham

A sensitive refurbishment highlighting the original features of a beautiful Listed Building, formerly used as a church in the centre of Altrincham.

A number of schemes to convert the church into office space were explored by NC Architecture, in collaboration with Interior Designer WeAreIncognito. The option we selected strips out most of the unsympathetic 20th Century partitions, to reveal the full length of the nave, while inserting a new mezzanine to achieve the floor area required to make the proposal viable. The new office seeks a balance between the historic building and the new elements. We have aimed to reinstate and keep as many original features as possible, while designing a modern and sympathetic working space. The intention behind the design is to bring as much light in as possible, while exploring the use of modern materials for the construction of the new elements. Simple, uncomplicated new forms will sit alongside the complex nature of the Church features, enhancing them and setting a sympathetic opposition in their materiality, that allows the visitor to identify the new elements apart from historic ones, understanding the changes in the building and their timeline.

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The material palette, is a selection of modern materials mixed with the traditional ones already present in the Church. For the new elements, a mix of polished concrete, powder coated steel, glass and timber will be used. Floors will be generally timber, the mezzanine supports and ceiling will be matte powder coated steel, the feature stairs polished concrete and barriers in glass. The colour palette will be formed by lighter shades of the colours already present in the Church, to help bring the light in. Walls and ceilings will be re-painted, timber elements investigated and treated to reveal their original tone and floors replaced. Existing fixtures and fittings will be cleaned and made good. This selection of materials will lighten up the interior and offer a contrast, to help differentiate the new elements from the historic fabric and fixtures, whilst being complimentary and sympathetic.