Down Town Christian Centre
(for Thembela Architects)
East London, South Africa
Due to rapid growth in church numbers since 2011, a new contemporary 1000 seater auditorium extension linked to a functions hall was constructed on this congested city centre site. To make space, an existing house was demolished, allowing for a new two-storey semi-circular structure to be tactfully added onto the side of the heritage sensitive ‘First City Baptist Church’ dating back to the 1950s. The superstructure of the existing single-storey hall was demolished down to ring beam level, with new structure added to allow for an additional level over. To meet the stringent fire safety regulations on escape routes and maximum travel distances, as well as cater for wheelchair users, a ramp/stairway corridor was added as a feature of the new consolidated layout. Whilst this ‘pause space’ has distinct functional characteristics, the area also acts as a buffer zone between the old and the new and allows views out onto the bustling Oxford Street vista beyond. State of the art sound and lighting systems have been installed in the main auditorium, which now maximise the dramatic effect of the building geometry and acoustics.
Project
Client: Down Town Christian Centre
Value: R25 million
Status: Completed 2017
Category: Religious
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