The ethics of care, normatively a theory considered by philosophers, is also an effective tool for visualising and undertaking design, architecture and urban projects that can benefit people and the environment equitably. With the deterioration of environmental conditions and the growing social isolation and loneliness across global cities, it has become imperative to envision spaces and engineer designs that can embody rituals of care oriented towards people, place and the environment.

In the realm of urban developments and infrastructural projects, the mechanisms of care are often best manifested through public interest designs, community spaces and the retrofitting of existing spaces and amenities. While the processes of conservation, restoration, adaptive reuse, refurbishment and retrofitting of existing infrastructure help extend their useful life and reduce the negative ecological impact that would have otherwise been sustained with new construction, these processes also give new life to historical architecture and cultural landmarks, consequently enhancing the communal wellbeing in the area.

Embodying the main ethical qualities of care, London-based architectural practice John Puttick Associates recently retrofitted and added a new pavilion to St Leonard's Church in Hove in East Sussex, United Kingdom. Located on New Church Road in Hove, St Leonard's is a Grade-II listed Anglican church that dates back to the 13th century. The Victorian building is characterised by a textural facade conceived in knapped flint. St Leonard's has remained in operation, with a dedicated yet dwindling congregation despite lacking a resident vicar for four years. In 2016, however, the church faced the threat of closure. In contrast to St Leonard's Church, the St Peter’s Church, located nearby in Brighton, remains busy with a bustling congregation. This difference can be attributed to the amenities made available at St Peter’s Church.

Hence, the vision to refurbish and retrofit St Leonard’s emerged. With a partnership between the church council, the Diocese of Chichester and St Peter’s Church, this project was imagined as one that could transform St Leonard's into a versatile community space, much like St Peter’s Church. The partnership saw at least 30 community members from St Peter’s Church join Vicar Ali Marshall to work alongside the smaller existing traditional congregation to revitalise St Leonard’s. For the project, the stakeholders organised an invited competition, which was won by John Puttick Associates. While the larger vision for the community architecture project was realised in 2020, funding for its construction was secured from the Church of England in 2021.

John Puttick Associates’ intervention pays heed to all the ethical qualities of care. The British architects were not only cognizant of the needs of the community in Hove and the needs of the 700-year-old church but also followed it up with a competent tangible response that helped in equitably revitalising an important historical and religious site in the region.

The intervention by John Puttick Associates comprises the renovation of the centuries-old double-nave church and the addition of a new timber porch. With its glulam pitched roof extension, the pavilion design serves as a highlight and an attractive and contemporary landmark in the area. “It has been a pleasure working with St Leonard’s Church to adapt their ecclesiastical building to meet contemporary needs. This has involved designing for both worship and community activities, and we hope the refurbishment will give renewed life to the building for many years to come,” shares John Puttick, director at John Puttick Associates.

The brief for this project sought an adaptable and functional community space suited to a family-oriented contemporary congregation and a smaller worship space ascribing to a more traditional design. The stakeholders also requested the inclusion of amenities such as the integration of a heating system, an audiovisual unit for musical services and the retention of the original fabric of the listed building.

In response to the brief, John Puttick Associates reimagined the entrance to the church. Shifting the entry from the southern face to the western facade, the new design attempts to frame a tangible welcome for all individuals in the local neighbourhood. The new entrance is framed by the 4.5-metre-high glulam porch, which is topped by a standing seam zinc roof. “The new entrance features two sets of timber slatted doors that open towards the street and rear of the site, enhancing a sense of permeability and inviting the community in,” mentions an excerpt from the press release.

When asked about the challenges faced while working on this project, the architects share, “St Leonard’s Church is a Grade II Listed building, and the heritage status comes with restrictions. We wanted to respond positively to the historic structure and design new interventions that are both contemporary and also sympathetic. The new timber porch and the continuation of original herringbone patterns found in the church’s tiling in the new joinery link the new design with the existing fabric. Herringbone timber cladding also covers the new dividing screens, and a new toilet pod and is evident in herringbone oak slats of the timber porch.”

The transformed entrance also led to some changes in the interior layout of the church. St Leonard’s, which features two distinct naves (a smaller wing to the south and a larger northern nave) adorned by original stone arches, now functions as a multi-use space. With the integration of glass doors within the archways, the floor plan of the church becomes more flexible. While the main nave is dedicated to contemporary family services and live music, the other nave, configured in a traditional mien, retains its original encaustic tiled floor in honour of the church’s heritage.

Pondering upon another challenge that came up with this project, John Puttick Associates shared, “Balancing sustainability with thermal comfort was a challenge. The church had not been heated throughout its history, and we have installed a new underfloor heating system to improve comfort. It is installed on top of the existing original parquet floor throughout the church so as not to disturb the historic material. This is driven by air-sourced heat pumps, supporting the church’s decarbonisation agenda. Where possible, we have also made creative re-use of existing materials in the design, such as repurposing the choir stalls for the new café servery.”

John Puttick Associates’ intervention within the church has managed to not only enhance the appeal of the building for church-goers but also to the general populace in the area. Beyond the inclusion of a multipurpose space, the addition of a cafe in the smaller nave manages to make the building a space worthy of regular visitations. In line with the studio’s attempt to adhere to sustainable practices, the cafe design includes the usage of repurposed choir stalls for the cafe's counter. Some other interventions on site include landscaping improvements such as the renewal of pathways, the addition of a new outdoor seating space and the installation of outdoor path lights for better visibility. Path lights and festoon lights installed alongside the new porch brighten the church during nights, retaining its ascription as a landmark building.

When asked about the visible difference that this intervention has made in terms of community engagement, John Puttick Associates shares, “St Leonard’s is now very busy throughout the week – not only on Sundays. With the pews removed from the larger nave in favour of flexible seating, and the under-floor heating installed, the space is often used for lively children’s groups. The community café is also a welcoming place where people gather for specific events or to socialise. Conferences and community events have also been held in the building, made possible by the new lighting and AV provisions. At the same time, worship remains at the centre of the church’s life – and the first weddings have been held.”

John Puttick Associates’ approach with this church is sensitive to both the historicity of the site and the extant community needs in the region. It exemplifies mechanisms of retrofitting that utilise materials available on-site, ensure the retention of heritage and contextual elements and integrate entities that acknowledge and address the novel needs of the current demographic.

Project Details

Name: New pavilion and retrofit of St Leonard's Church in Hove, East Sussex
Location: Hove, East Sussex, United Kingdom
Client: St Leonard’s Church
Architect: John Puttick Associates
Conservation architect: Cerowski Architects
Contractor: DBR
Structural Engineer: Momentum
Civil Engineer: Momentum
MEP Consultant: MCA Consulting Engineers
Project Manager and Quantity Surveyor: Riverstone Projects
CAD: MicroStation, Rhino
Planning: Planning consent and Church of England Faculty
Gross internal floor area: 770 sq m
Year of Completion: 2024