THE PROPOSAL
The architect is Ptolemy Dean, whose practice is Ptolemy Dean Architects Ltd.
His team have been well aware that the Abbey extension presents a considerable challenge. Not only will it have to reflect the church's everyday needs and its outreach programme - both now and well into the future - but it will also have to relate successfully to the existing historic fabric, and to the equally sensitive surrounding townscape.
These are the main features of the scheme:
- A new three-storey building (plus basement) will be added to the north west corner of the Abbey, within the 'footprint' of the original Abbey but with minimal disturbance to the existing structure. It will replace the unloved 20th century extension which currently forms the vicar's vestry.
- The space in the south west corner of the Abbey was originally intended as a chapel (and contains the Elmer and Aldhelm stained glass windows). It is currently used as a creche and as the verger's store. The arches, currently bricked in, will be glazed to create a brighter area.
- The new extension and the reclaimed area will house exhibition space, facilities for educational visits, the parish office, meeting rooms and ancillary services; there will be a lift and basic catering facilities.
- The external area in the centre of the west end, in front of the west window, will become a courtyard with access directly into the nave through new doors beneath the window.
- One of the most striking visual aspects of the existing building is the ruinous area beyond the existing east wall, evidence that the original building was considerably larger. This features vividly in Abbey House Gardens publicity material. However ruins such as these still require maintenance, and a considerably amount of money needs to be spent simply to prevent the area becoming a safety hazard. This has been included in the project to show that it is not just a matter of adding an extension, but involves the future of the whole structure.