The big reveal – initial schemes emerge from the design process

This graphic is of the existing floor plan from the south-west aspect.

It seems like it’s been a long time between the site visit and the first plans emerging from the design process.  In reality it was just over three weeks during which I kept myself busy by demolishing unsympathetic additions in the vestry, removing plasterboard, and uplifting the carpet.

I’d provided my architect with a written brief before the site visit at the end of August.  Due to my budget constraints, I’m planning to do the renovations in three phases:

Phase One – converting the vestry to contain one bedroom, a shower room, and kitchenette.

Phase Two – converting the nave to contain three more bedrooms, a bathroom, and the main living areas.

Phase Three – demolishing the 1970’s vestibule, re-instating the entrance porch, adding decking, garaging, fencing, and landscaping.

I want my visitors to have a strong sense of the church by stripping back the pinex and plywood to reveal the original rimu T&G sarking underneath.  You can see from this picture some of the original woodwork before it got suffocated by pink pinex.  Just below the plywood is the original vertical rimu T&G sarking.  (Those aren’t floor joists btw, but the framing of the raised platform in the alter area.)

I also want the additions and insertions such as the mezzanine floor to give the illusion that they could be removed and the essence of the church would remain.  I love open-plan spaces with defined zones for different activities.  Push back the furniture and it’s a large party space!

Scheme 1 – transverse mezzanine with two bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs.

Scheme 2 – longitudinal mezzanine with two or three bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs.

What do you think of the proposed schemes?  What do you think would work for me?  What changes would you make if it was your space?  I look forward to reading your comments!

Next time:  Why, why, why Delilah?