All Hallows by the Tower, London

The project was to create a building which included church hall, restaurant and bookshop spaces as well as new kitchen, storage and toilet facilities.  The site was a very tight location adjacent to the Grade I listed church and contained within the Grade II* listed churchyard boundary wall.

The client required a bold, modern and open building, which has been realised in durable low maintenance materials which will weather and age gracefully.  The building was kept low so as not to compete or obstruct views of the original church.  The street entrance to the new building is a new solid Portland stone Baroque portal which punctures the boundary wall.  The churchyard has been re-landscaped as a fully accessible public open space, also in durable modern materials.

The site is very sensitive visually and historically and is an important local landmark adjacent to the Tower of London. Detailed and careful negotiations with the authorities were required for planning and listed building consent.  The work was preceded by a full archaeological investigation.