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St Andrew by the Wardrobe

City of London

Balancing sustainability with a highly decorative history.

internal view or church nave, timber pews with red seating stone slab flooring, low level gold chandeliers at regular intervals.

Challenges

Interior church nave showing dark staining to the vaulted ceiling, walls and arches with timber paneled, shake-style detailed walls below the gallery, timber pews, central arched window, low-hanging decorative chandelier with various framed scriptures below the windows.
close-up of plaster relief decorative ceilings being cleaned.

Our Solution

We developed a discreet but sustainable system for the church, using the roof void to install air source heat pumps and fitting low-energy electric systems without any visible interventions to the building.

Overview of the church nave from gallery level, showing timber-paneled walls, timber pews, arched window, decorative chandeliers at regular intervals and dark staining and water ingress to the vaulted plaster relief decorative ceiling.
internal view or church nave, timber pews with red seating stone slab flooring, low level gold chandeliers at regular intervals.

Our Design

In order to protect the extensive decorative panelling within the church space we ran pipework discreetly within the paneling, behind columns and along low-level skirting. The heating system itself includes cast-iron radiators and compact concealed units. connected to the heat pumps.

The works also included the restoration of historic light fittings which have been retro-fitted with low energy LEDs.

Beyond the heating system we have worked with the church to develop:

•Electrical rewiring and fire detection/alarm
•New lighting installation
•Reconfiguration of the narthex and WC area
•Full redecoration throughout
•Refurbishment of the chapel, office, parish room and kitchen to provideimproved facilities
•Formation of an accessible entrance ramp to the north entrance and associatedre-landscaping
•Roof repairs including improved access for maintenance

proposed sectional drawing highlighting changes to existing church nave, galleries and loft space.

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