IMPRESSIVE ROOFLIGHTS FLOOD CHURCH EXTENSION WITH DAYLIGHT

Situated in leafy north Oxford, this beautiful church forms a peaceful sanctuary for its parish and locals. The recently built front extension creates a new threshold for the church, encompassing a large multipart Flushglaze fixed rooflight from Glazing Vision. The rooflight works to fill the entrance lobby with natural daylight and helps to create a lofty, open space with character.

RESPECTING HISTORY & ACCOMMODATING THE CONTEMPORARY

Adrian James Architects were appointed to create this new front extension, a project that presented some difficulties. Building on the front of a listed and loved church is something that requires very careful consideration by multiple bodies, both statutory and corporeal. This said, the new addition doesn’t try and hide the curious historical anomaly of the brick west wall. Instead, it has been designed as if the church interior has continued to flow out of the entrance doors and into a unique and welcoming glazed entrance.

Key to the project was to create an area which would bring new life to the church and would help to draw in people from outside the building, whilst also providing iconic views of the church. Having previously worked with Glazing Vision on some large, private house projects, Adrian James Architects sought out their expertise in providing a feature rooflight which would be a main component within the new Narthex.

MAXIMISING DAYLIGHT, HIGHLIGHTING STUNNING FEATURES

A generously sized multipart Flushglaze roof light, measuring 3922 x 2566mm, was chosen to flood the new narthex space with plenty of natural daylight during the day. The product not only works to draw people in from outside the building, but also draws visitors back out of the church via the narthex after ceremonies. Three smaller fixed Flushglaze rooflights were installed throughout this contemporary extension to help provide natural light into both the toilet and kitchen areas.

This new modular Flushglaze rooflight compliments the beauty of the church and provides a clear, frameless internal view of the new west gable window, emphasising the importance of the church as both a community and religious centre. Ryan Taylor of Adrian James Architects explains, “the finished result is excellent; installation of the rooflight was straightforward and the units appear seamless. The minimal detail is ideal from an architectural perspective.”

With the rooflight running between two existing buttresses, there were some complications as the architects learnt that standard kerb detail couldn’t be switched over to an abutment detail mid-run. However, with the advice of Glazing Vision, this was not difficult to resolve and helped to create a positive working relationship, once again, between both Adrian James Architects and Glazing Vision.

The new design has been positively welcomed by English Heritage, the planners, the diocese, the parish and the locals.

To find out more about design considerations for your next project, contact us on 01379 658 300 or request a CPD.