Glasgow-based practice Loader Monteith has revitalised a community square in the Scottish city. Together with landscape architect Mark Donaldson, the architects have greatly improved accessibility to the convivial piazza outside St Columbkille’s Church. This gesture of welcome to the community has been well received.

St Columbkille’s Church in Glasgow, originally founded in 1851, is a Catholic parish with an imposing building from 1940. This makes it one of the few churches completed after the Second World War broke out. It is a striking modern interpretation of a Romanesque Basilica and sits at the centre of Main Street. This cornerstone of the local catholic community, designed by Jack Coia of Gillespie, Kidd & Coai Architects, has a grand red brick façade and an impressive volume. However, the entrance to the grounds lacked a convivial, inviting presence, making the revitalisation by Loader Monteith necessary.

A gesture of welcome

Before the renovation works, St Columbkille’s had a hardscape forecourt set with a wide expanse of grey concrete paving and a short series of steps, which were a rather anticlimactic entrance to the grand church. Barrier-free access was located to the side of the building in the shape of a steep ramp that challenged those who didn’t have additional assistance.

Now, Glasgow practice Loader Monteith has reimagined the entrance to this grand building, creating a new community-focused planted piazza that brings both greenery and ready access to the church. A red brick paving extends from the street to transition the public space to the church with a considered, continuous threshold.

A new gradient ramp is at the heart of the design. It is integrated around curved York stone steps, allowing for barrier-free entry and therefore democratising accessibility for all. Loader Monteith drew inspiration from the internal proportions of the church, such as the vast semi-circular sanctuary, to create the new stepped and ramped entrance. According to the office, this gesture of welcome is reminiscent of the softly swirling ramps at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Guggenheim Museum in New York, with the ramp culminating in an elongated entrance procession and an enlarged terrace for parishioners to congregate.

Bringing the community together

From now on, parishioners of St Columbkille’s have an intermediary gathering point to meet after services on the steps and terrace. The refreshed forecourt also features new hardscaping with integrated seating, allowing people of any faith at any stage to enjoy this public space.

The detailed brickwork patterns of the piazza mirror the façade of the church, adding texture and interest to the landscape and simultaneously reinforcing the ambience of a European civic square. Father Bernard Mournian, who has been at the parish since 2017, has completed part of his studies in Rome, where he saw how street and city life can bring the community together with the help of spatial design. This inspiration drove the revitalisation of the square. Loader Monteith was chosen due to its track record of breathing new life into heritage projects. With attention to detail, the planners have managed to connect the external space with the historical architecture of the building.

To break up the hardscaping and brick exterior of St Columbkille’s, Loader Monteith and Mark Donaldson introduced soft planting beds, which will also add colours throughout the year. New outdoor step lighting improves wayfinding in the darker months of the year. These elements frame the church and emphasise the goal of making the environment more welcoming both for parishioners and for visitors.

A space befitting the church

The revitalisation of the community square will serve as a precedent for future conservation projects, hopes Loader Monteith. By marrying historical reverence and modern accessibility, it is possible to create a focal point for everyone in the community.

Iain King, Specialist Conservation Architect and Director at Loader Monteith, said: ‘We are honoured to support the church in realising the ambitious goals of this project and to witness the positive outcomes achieved. This project has enhanced the church’s civic presence within Rutherglen, creating a welcoming entrance that is accessible for all, promoting outreach by opening up the church and breaking down barriers.

By integrating a shallow gradient ramp into the stepped terraces, we ensure inclusivity without compromising the structure’s integrity. The soft landscaping further complements the entrance axis, with planting that provides seasonal interest that reflects the church calendar year”.

The community has accepted the new square with open arms. According to Father Bernard Mournian, “The parishioners and I are delighted with the way the project has turned out, it has surpassed our expectations, the new space is now befitting to the interior of our parish church.”

Loader Monteith is known for “weaving narratives of meaning and purpose into every design”, according to the company’s own description. It creates spaces for arts, culture, education, homes and workplaces in the UK and beyond since being established in 2016.

Read more: Just outside Glasgow, the small town of Paisley is undergoing a fascinating regeneration project.