Issue 39 Sept 23 - Journal - Page 29
2) the roof and interior of the Verger’s Lodge was removed
to create a new Multipurpose Room; and
3) a new opening in the external wall of the New
Cathedral was formed to connect the interior and the
new facilities within the extension. The Swedish
Windows were relocated.
The first two changes were not contentious, but the third
required extensive consultation with the C20 Society and
Cathedral Fabric Commission for England, to unequivocally demonstrate the impact could be counter-balanced
by long-term strategic benefits and an enhanced representation of the windows.
The Swedish Windows are an original ‘founding artwork’
comprising five panels of stained glass designed by Einar
Forseth. The Barbara Whatmore Charitable Trust funded
a specialist condition assessment by Büro Rauch who then
specified the necessary repairs. York Glaziers Trust’s workshop conserved the windows in their workshop. They
were then returned to a similar position, slightly westward
of their present location, as a feature wall within the
extension. Significant views from within the Cathedral
interior are not compromised.
The Cathedral’s Brief for the CoC2021 Project was
simple: to create a flexible multipurpose room to be used
as an Education Room or events space for up to 90 people,
with associated facilities to serve both this space and the
Cathedral itself. These include kitchen, green room,
much-needed storage, cloakroom and craft kitchenette
for use during schools visits, and 11 new toilets including
fully accessible, ambulant and parent room facilities.
Back-of-house facilities include more highly serviced areas
to allow pop-up catering provision in support of gala
dinners held in the Nave.
Above, New opening in Cathedral wall, and re-presented Swedish
Windows following conservation
Accessibility was a key focus for improvements. These include an accessible entrance from the North Terrace, a
permanent stone ramp within the New Cathedral interior
(stone by Artorius Faber), and a new evacuation lift to
connect Cathedral floor and Undercroft (supplied and installed by Morris Vermaport Lifts). Prior to the CoC2021
Project, visitors who could not manage the 4 flights of
stairs to the Undercroft had to travel in the 1960s goods
lift to access the toilet facilities or to visit the exhibition
space.
Designated independent access to the new extension
ensures visiting school groups are separated from the
public visitor route, and also enables the multipurpose
room to be used independently after hours.
Opposite, New ramp within the New Cathedral Nave,
north aisle. Photograph by Nick Smith Photography.
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Conservation & Heritage Journal
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