Lumen

The London office of Theis and Khan architects has completed another of its London projects: the renovation of the reformist Lumen church on Tavistock Place in Bloomsbury. The renovation of the original 1960s building, constructed on the ruins of a church destroyed by bombing during World War II, included not only the overall restoration of the building but also the creation of a new entrance, offices, toilets, and a garden in the courtyard of the original structure.
      The brief was to bring the church into the 21st century and open it to the local community. The result is a simple and majestic space for worship nestled among several neutral areas designated for both believers and the public, regardless of denomination.
      Three elements played a key role in the renovation, not only from a construction perspective but also spiritually and functionally. The incorporation of a café operating through an eight-meter-high window facing the street. A new sacred space inserted into the main nave of the church and the construction of three new community apartments.
      The focal point of the entire design and a kind of "leitmotif" of the project became the new sacred space. The large-scale intervention executed in white plaster creates a striking conical space. A solid beam of light penetrates through a circular skylight that spans the entire height of the 11-meter main nave and quietly falls onto the stone floor.
      The newly created space offers all people, regardless of faith or denomination, a peaceful place removed from the bustle of the surrounding world, a space for worship, ceremonies, or simply quiet contemplation. Visitors can watch the gradual transformation of light and the overall atmosphere in the building change with the passage of time, the day, and the season. This also contributes to the feeling of separation from the constant hustle and bustle of the world outside.
      In the adjacent garden at the back of the site (the original parking lot), the authors present their view on the contemporary interpretation of the architectural form of a monastery. An arcade supported by slender steel columns encircles the central courtyard, which is connected to the newly constructed community apartments. The courtyard is filled with greenery and mature birch trees; it is not designated only for believers or residents of the apartments but for anyone who wishes to rest, experience a calm moment in everyday hustle, or just eat their lunch sandwich.
      In the tradition of the reform church, two young artists were commissioned in the name of the community, with the help of the art association Modus Operandi, to create three artworks specifically for this space. Internationally recognized artist Alison Wilding designed not only new baptismal font but also a garden drinking fountain and a fountain. In her functional sculptures, she explores the meaning and behavior of the living element – water, and by placing them within the church grounds, she defines new striking points within both the interior and exterior spaces. Ron Shiths named his installation placed in the window of the street facade North Elevation. In the recess of the north-facing window of the café, a bronze geometric-sculptural image is hung. The sculpture subtly penetrates from the interior to passersby as well as into the main space of the church. The design evokes the traditional images of many religions, not only Christians, but also Muslims, Hindus, or Buddhists.