BRIEF

The Church of St Mary in the village of Kenardington, Ashford possesses a unique history that becomes immediately evident upon entering. Its disfigured interior the result of a lightning strike in 1559 that caused a fire and subsequent collapse of the Nave. Aided by a local benefactor the incumbent vicar had a vision for the re-presentation of the Church and sought to reconnect the Norman tower to the Medieval Nave via a new link extension.

 

CHALLENGES

- The client requested step free access to accommodate wheelchair users to all areas of the Church, a significant problem considering the Tower floor level sat 800mm above the Nave.

- English Heritage and Ashford Borough Council also had strong opinions on the design of the extension and its impact on the Church and its setting.

- Respecting the existing window openings to the north elevation whilst maintaining a comfortable ceiling level within the extension.

 

DESIGN SOLUTION

The new services building was designed to appear subservient within the churchyard, a shallow roof pitch and low eaves height with a palette of traditional materials was proposed, detailed in a sympathetic yet contemporary manner in order to achieve this.

A new ramped path leading to the extension entrance door provided level access through to the Nave. Step free access was also provided at the entrance to the Tower with steps that could accommodate a stair lift that would enable access into the extension.

 

*Project undertaken during employment at Purcell LLP