Govan Old Parish
Govan Old is a grade A listed church on the banks of the river Clyde in Govan near Glasgow. It is set within an ancient burial ground that dates from 500AD; the shape of which echoes an ancient ritual enclosure of a pre Christian religious site.
2024
Client
Govan Heritage Trust
Value
£4.5m
The audience will be international, national and local with Govan Old being part of Glasgow’s cultural circuit as well as a destination in its own right. The subject matter of the stones and the archaeological history of the place means that education programmes are already in place with primary and secondary schools as well as Glasgow School of Art and Glasgow University. The project therefore has great reach having cultural, educational, community, event and business connections to the city and local community.
Through consulting with the Govan Heritage Trust and their multi-headed board we have designed a layered project that will create a sustainable equilibrium combining culture, education and local business. Consensus was achieved by work shopping the design proposals at various stages of feasibility before progressing to detailed design.
The Challenge
To transform the deconsecrated Grade A listed building and its surrounding burial ground into a self-sustaining and world-class visitor attraction, providing a fully accessible museum and venue space within the existing building as well as an adjacent new-build extension and separate studio building providing commercial space.
The Solution
Understanding the subject matter and the existing building has been critical in setting the basis for how the design has been developed across multiple phases spanning conservation and refurbishment, extension and new-build elements, with each being both interdependent as well as requiring to be considered as an individual piece.
The Outcome
Each area of the existing building and its grounds has been designed to maximise the usage of the building and enhance the setting of the Govan Stones whilst utilising energy-saving technologies such as a river source heat pump to ensure the sustainable future of the building.
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