The St Margaret’s Church project has been commended in this year’s prestigious RIBA MacEwean Award; we are thrilled that our community project has been so well received in this award, set up to showcases architecture for the common good.

The transformation of the church has been a huge success, for the church (congregation numbers have increased) and the wider community (through the multiple services the space can now offer), this is a project that we, as a design practice, are enormously proud to have collaborated on.

There were some wonderful comments from the award judges:

‘This provides a template showing you don’t have to do much to turn a church back to the community to enliven it.’ Robyn Poulson, BDP

‘They started with the basics and continued to add more uses – it can be executed in multiple phases. This move is smarter than it looks, it’s important in getting the building back into use.’ Pearcy Weston

‘It has been done cleanly, neatly, allowing it to do so many more things.’ Eleanor Young

Fran Carabott, our client and the Lay Pioneer Minister at St Margaret’s commented ‘Key to the project’s success has been the practice’s relationship with the diverse group involved at St Margaret’s; it’s really not just a church in the traditional sense, more like a hub for the community. Studio BAD’s flexibility and mobility have enabled us to move very quickly from concept to site; we are now enjoying the results of that work.’

 

The full article can be read here