Chapel on the Hill Casa Di Vacanze by Evolution Design

Chapel on the Hill Casa Di Vacanze by Evolution Design is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2016 A' Design Award d'Argentu in Disignu d'Architettura Competition Category.

ArgentuArchitettura· 2016

Chapel on the Hill Casa Di Vacanze

by Evolution Design

Client: Evolution Design

A' Design Award d'Argentu Winner in Architettura Category

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Verified Award Winner

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Colors

The Design

About Chapel on the Hill Casa Di Vacanze

Dopu avè statu abbandunatu per più di 40 anni, una capanna Metodista dilapidata in u nordu di l'Inghilterra hè stata trasfurmata in una casa di vacanze self-catering per 7 persone. L'architetti anu conservatu e caratteristiche originali - l'alte vetrate gotiche è a sala principale di a congregazione - trasformendu a cappella in un spaziu armoniu è còmode inundatu di luce di ghjornu. Stu palazzu di u 19u seculu si trova in una campagna inglese inglese rurale chì offre panoramiche da e muntagne rotulanti è di a bella campagna.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award d'Argentu

Chapel on the Hill Casa Di Vacanze hè un vincitore di u premiu A' Design Award d'Argentu, una ricunniscenza straordinariamente prestigiosa attribuita à i disegni di alta gamma, splendidi è impressiunanti. I vincitori d'Argentu sò opere tremendamente brillanti è estremamente creative chì illustranu l'espertisa, u talentu è l'acutezza eccezziunali di i so disegnatori. Si aspetta chì Chapel on the Hill Casa Di Vacanze sia una opera maravigliosa di mostra, rimarchevulemente prufessiunale è prufondamente innuvatrice. Stu disegnu vincitore di u premiu A' Design Award d'Argentu hè una invenzione assai nutevule è ammirata chì benefizia è allarga i limiti di l'arte, di a scienza, di u disegnu è di a tecnulugia. Chapel on the Hill Casa Di Vacanze hè una creazione assai invidiata chì evoca disideri, introduce sentimenti pusitivi è accende stupore è maraviglia.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: After standing derelict for more than 40 years, a dilapidated Methodist chapel has been brought back to life by being converted into a modern holiday home for 7 people. The great achievement of this conversion is the way it retained the original characteristics of the chapel - the tall Gothic windows and the main congregation hall. Combined with a modern but sensitive interior design, the old chapel was resurrected to a beautiful, harmonious and comfortable space flooded with natural light.
Dimensions & Packaging: The Chapel has two floors: the ground floor and the mezzanine floor. Total floor area is 141 m2.
Tags: Chapel conversion, chapel reconstruction, chapel renovation, boutique holiday home, holiday cottage, UK, Forest-in-Teesdale
Production Technology: During the conversion, all main connections (water, electricity, sewage treatment) were installed. To retain the original look, the historic stonework was preserved and the roof tiles were recycled. New wooden window frames were installed to match the original windows. The building was insulated to be sustainable and comfortable for guests. In the interior, roof trusses were retained with natural finish. The use of tiles on the back wall complemented the generous ceiling height and spaciousness.
Design Challenge: At a very early planning stage it became clear that there was not enough space on the ground floor for all required rooms, therefore a mezzanine floor was proposed. Yet, to insert another floor without obstructing the Gothic windows meant designing the mezzanine floor above the window line, which gave the challenge of limited headroom on the first floor. To ensure the upstairs rooms function well, a 1:1 mock-up was built to test the new layout worked in full-scale.
Research: As it was important to retain as much of the original look and feel of the chapel as possible, numerous researches were conducted, including ecological and structural surveys and heritage appraisal. Also a research about the local neighborhood and traditional materials was carried out. The results of these surveys were later used in the sensitive development of the conversion design concept.
Inspiration: This beautiful chapel built in 1880 with great proportions and elegant architectonic details is located in a picturesque rural neighborhood with panoramic views to the North Pennines. The main inspiration was the raw beauty of the landscape and the amazing open horizon and the chapel sitting in the midst of it. Enabling visitors to experience this amazing spectacle combined with the history of the chapel was the driving force of this conversion.
Project Duration: The renovation project started in December 2013 and finished in May 2015.
It should have taken 12 month but took nearly 18 month due to the severe weather conditions. The contractors often had to stop work, as it was impossible to work in the driving rain and gale force winds. Location: Forest-in-Teesdale, UK.
Operation Flow: The house is operated as a self-catering holiday cottage.
Image Credits: Chris Humphreys