Loader Monteith revitalises St Columbkille’s Church with a gesture of welcome to the community
Loader Monteith in collaboration with landscape architect, Mark Donaldson, has completed a transformative landscape renewal for St Columbkille’s Church in Rutherglen, Glasgow. The works greatly improve accessibility and reimagine the external landscape as a convivial piazza to democratise access and enhance the arrival experience, welcoming all to the church.
Located within the Rutherglen Conservation Area, the church sits at the centre of Main Street and has become the cornerstone of the local catholic community since the establishment of the parish in 1851. The Category-A listed building, redesigned during the interwar period by Jack Coia of Gillespie, Kidd & Coia Architects, opened in 1940 as a striking modern interpretation of an Italian Romanesque basilica.
Despite its grand red brick façade and impressive volume, the entrance to the grounds lacked a convivial, inviting presence. The hardscape forecourt was set with a wide expanse of grey concrete paving, and a short series of steps marked an anticlimactic entrance to the grand church. Level access was previously located to the side of the church, up a steep ramp that challenged those without additional assistance.
Loader Monteith has reimagined the entry to St. Columbkille's, creating a new community-focused planted piazza, bringing greenery and ready access to the church. Red brick paving extends from the street, gently transitioning the public space to the church over a considered, continuous threshold.
At the heart of the scheme is a new gradient ramp, integrated around curved York stone steps, which allows for barrier-free entry and democratising accessibility for all. Loader Monteith drew inspiration from the church’s internal proportions, taking the cues from the vast semi-circular sanctuary to create the new stepped and ramped entrance. 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 enlarged terrace for parishioners to congregate.
The steps and terrace offer an intermediary gathering point, space for parishioners to meet after services. The refreshed forecourt features new hardscaping with integrated seating, allowing those of any faith at any stage to enjoy the public space.
The detailed brickwork patterns of the piazza mirror the church’s façade, adding texture and interest to the landscape whilst reinforcing the ambience of a European civic square. The meticulous attention to detail connects the external space with the historical architecture of the building.
Loader Monteith and Mark Donaldson introduced soft planting beds to break up the hardscaping and brick exterior of St Columbkille's. The team also improved wayfinding in darker months with the addition of outdoor step lighting. These elements frame the church to make the environment more welcoming for parishioners and visitors.
This revitalisation is driven by Father Bernard Mournian who joined the parish in August 2017. Father Mournian began his studies for the priesthood in Rome, where he saw street and city life bringing the community together through spatial design. Loader Monteith was a clear choice for their expertise in breathing new life into heritage projects.
Loader Monteith’s approach marries historical reverence with modern accessibility, setting a precedent for future conservation projects. The new additions respect the architectural significance of St Columbkille’s and breathe new life into its surroundings, making it a focal point for the community.
Team:
Architect: Loader Monteith Architects
Project Architect: Louis Wiszniewski
Client: St Columbkille's Parish Church
Landscape Architect: Mark Donaldson
Contractor: Covanburn Contracts Ltd
Structural Engineer: Will Rudd Davidson
Civil Engineer: Will Rudd Davidson
Conservation Consultant: Loader Monteith Architects
Quantity Surveyor: 3C Construction Cost Consultants Limited
Principal designer: Loader Monteith Architects
Photography: Will Scott Photography
