THE PROJECT
The construction consisted of a single storey ancillary block with lecture room, WCs, simple kitchen/ servery, a library, 2 small healing rooms that are all connected by an enclosed colonnade that connects to the temple building.
The temple itself is roughly 250m2 GIA and contains a small plant room and an interview type room. The complexity of the chapel comes from four connecting central arches with a timber framed beacon above.
The external works included relocation of a car park and a number of paths.
£4.9M
CONTRACT VALUE
78 WEEKS
CONTRACT DURATION
Customer
The White Eagle Lodge
Architect
James Gorst Architects
Quantity Surveyor
Jackson Coles LLP
Form of Contract
JCT Standard With Contractors Design
THE DESIGN
Symbolic of earth, the square plan of the temple is constructed through brickwork, rooting the building in Mother Earth. A timber structure rests on this base forming a circle of light. Above this four spectacular arches join together to represent the cardinal axes running through the temple.
This sacred relationship between the circle, square and cross reference the White Eagle Lodge symbol of the Cross of Light within the Circle of Light.
THE LANDSCAPE
White Eagle often reminds us of the importance of the natural world around us.
Alongside the development the plans for a new temple, they carefully considered the landscape surrounding it: An external sacred space to complement the sacred space of the temple.
This new landscape would nurture and rejuvenate what was there before, while emphasising the importance of the east-west energy line, upon which the temple stands.
Additionally, a local landscape chakra system would be developed along this path of light. A series of small gardens and focal points would be added, providing opportunity to pause and contemplate each chakra.
KEY FACTS AND AWARDS
- Glulam beams
- Ground source heat pumps
- Concrete arches
- Polished concrete floor
- Precast concrete arches
- Intricate brickwork
- Lime mortar
- 2024 RIBA South Award: Including RIBA South Award, Buidling of the Year, Project Architect of the Year, and Sustainability Award
- 2024 Civic Trust Award: Including the National Panel Special Award
- 2023 AJ Architecture Award: Including Design of the Year and Community and Faith Project
- 2023 Woods Awards: Gold Award for Best New Timber Building
