A Lichfield architectural practice has won a design award following a £5 million project to restore a Birmingham church after it was destroyed by an arson attack.
Brownhill Hayward Brown Architects were named winners at the South Staffordshire Partnership Design Awards for their work in refurbishing St Barnabas Church after the blaze which gutted the 1822 Grade II listed building in October 2007.
The fire caused irreparable damage to the 1893 timber roof, with only the west bell tower surviving the blaze, and took seven months to remove unsafe remains and stabilise.
Brownhill Hayward Brown was able to keep the majority of the original shell as well as cleaning and repointing the stonework to ensure St Barnabas was still recognisable as the old building.
A glazed extension was built to accommodate a café space and grant easier access from a new entrance, allowing views into the building to demystify the church for passers-by. The destroyed sanctuary steps were replaced by a new circular dais and a new bigger chapel is sited to the north of the chancel.
Andrew Hayward, director at Brownhill Hayward Brown, said: “Extensions to historic buildings are particularly challenging at the best of times. When a fair proportion of the historic fabric has been destroyed by fire, the challenge is multiplied. We are thrilled to have been recognised by the SSP for the quality of our design work.
“Whilst the fire was a disaster, it was also seen as an opportunity to improve the former building and, by integrating new structure and facilities, bring St Barnabas into the 21st century.”
