This project sees the conversion of a former industrial building and its site in North Rocks, in greater Western Sydney, into a functional and welcoming place of worship for the Sydney Saesoon Presbyterian Church. While reinforcing the rigorous modernist structure of the existing building, new openings minimise the vast scale to provide connections to the outdoors and make the building’s new use apparent.
Expand ContentThe challenge of transforming a factory building into a church was largely resolved by mediating between the human scale and the vastness of a building over 90 metres wide and long. Imbuing the spaces with light, air and a sense of delight was also important. The new architecture is sympathetic to the existing building and provides a solution which is robust and modest, creating a safe, durable and functional home for the Church.
The former warehouse also on the site, has been adapted to accommodate courtyards, pathways, roads and parking. Between the spaces, native landscaping softens the building, attracts wildlife and provides intimate and usable outdoor spaces.
At the heart of the building is a central ‘gallery’ space comprising a 19-metre-wide and 70-metre-long foyer. This central gallery is naturally lit via overhead clerestory windows and orientates the visitor, bringing everyone together in one space. This subtle orchestration of flow facilitates the congregation of 300 to naturally gather into groups (pending age, language or specific focus) and find each other at the end of the service.
The gallery also divides the building into two sides: one housing the larger halls, dining area and 1300 seat main hall, and another containing the smaller rooms for the Sunday school, which are grouped around a central atrium. Clear planning throughout the design uses the structure of the existing building to best effect, maximising efficiency and providing coherent circulation and spatial organisation.
