A place to meet
While contemporary church design tends to be more prosaic than the ecclesiastical architecture of former times, the GHD Architects-designed Latter Day Saints Narre Warren meeting house is somewhat of an exception, being notable for its size and site development and featuring arched and corbelled brickwork with sandstone copings and panels aned an impressive expanse of slate-like roof, topped with an aluminium spire.
The term “meeting house” acknowledges the multiple functionality of the building. As well as a worship area, it encompasses a complex of meeting rooms and classrooms, office facilities, a separate baptismal area and, at its heart, a full size basketball court that doubles as a function venue.
The base design has been progressively adapted from American designs by GHD. The four elevations are richly decorated with multiple-corbelled arches and bands of red bricks providing a strong contrast with the grey brick walling. The shallow arches are finished with inverted red sill bricks.
According to the Clay Brick and Paver Association , the choice of low maintenance materials such as clay bricks and pavers was a conscious choice by the client who expects a life of 200 years for the building.
Source: Building Products News.
15-Dec-2005