Client
Citychurch
Design
Angela Gidden Studio
Photographer
Matt Cant
Location
City Centre, Cardiff
Project Value
£170,000
Year
2017
Citychurch
Creating an inclusive space for gatherings. Citychurch is a well-established Pentecostal church in Cardiff. The iconic building was built in the early 1930’s as the home for the Pentecostal church and was commissioned by Principal George Jeffreys, Founder of the Elim Gospel Alliance. The church, previously known as the City Temple, opened in 1933 to become one of the biggest churches in South Wales. Over the years the Citychurch has undergone a number of refurbishments, expansions and extensions to accommodate the growing membership and changing times. ASR Projects collaborating with DCS contractors were commissioned to carry out the latest remodel of the large foyer space, adjoining facilities and front façade. Working closely with designer Angela Gidden, we transformed an old space into an unrecognisable new space – an open, inclusive and welcoming space.
Same space, twice the size
We literally raised the roof in the church. The project was to create and open up the foyer to make a new space for a 1000 members. And that’s how many people walk through the doors and into the foyer for the Sunday services. ASR Projects working with DCS contractors were responsible for the complete build and programme, from Quantity Surveying to Project managing, procurement to quality control, rip-out to fit-out, joinery to stone masonry, interior and exterior finishes, M&E to plumbing, floor treatments to wall treatments, new washrooms to new kitchen fit-out, from new windows to doors – internal, external, upstairs and downstairs.
ASR Projects and DCS provided a comprehensive service on site, working around the Citychurch’s activities and working with the church and it’s members to help facilitate the continuing uninterrupted programme of services and events. We ensured that Friday afternoons were dedicated to clearing the foyer area and ‘building site’ to enable members to use the main entrance on Sundays. Working with the church we overcame all logistical challenges ensuring the least amount of disruption for all their members. For the Citychurch it was always – ‘services as usual’ and we always went above and beyond to accommodate.
Angela Gidden | Designer & Consultant Creative Director |The Citychurch project was an extremely interesting project to work on. Understanding the client’s past, their needs and their future was paramount to creating a design scheme that worked for them – all 1000 members of the church.
That in its self is a challenge but when one of the oldest members of the church in her 90’s says on the first Sunday service when we open the doors, “I feel like I’ve just walked into a palace”, then you know you’ve captured the minds and hearts with the design. From the outset David Morgan, ASR Projects and DCS understood the design concept but importantly they understood the challenging needs of the client, and they never disappointed. The spaces reflected their craft, their commitment.
The detail – calm, welcoming & spiritual
The foyer is the heart and soul of the Citychurch. It’s where the meeting and greeting happens, the large gatherings, the small gatherings, and where the space offers a safe haven and time for quiet contemplation and prayer. Designer Angela Gidden created a concept that opened up the space as a multi-functional and flexible place to gather and a space that feels open, spiritual, welcoming and calm. Using many sustainable materials and finishes the design was pared back to hero the simplicity in textures and colours and features Bolon woven flooring, a cascade of Baux acoustic planks on the ceiling, 3D faceted effect porcelain tiles, bespoke furniture, Tom Dixon lighting – textures, finishes and colours of earth, light, and reflections.
