Artists’ impression of one of the possible layouts for the refurbishment of the Large Meeting House. The centre space is flexible and can also be used as seatin Photo: Photo courtesy John McAslan and Partners.
Proposed ‘green’ refurbishment at Friends House
Plans for the refurbishment of Friends House have a green agenda
A green agenda will be at the heart of major changes to the fabric of Friends’ House, the London headquarters of British Quakers. That’s the promise made by the trustees of Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM), the formal organisation of Quakers in England, Scotland and Wales. The trustees will put £4.25m into a refurbishment that may see a skylight added to the large meeting room, the galleries integrated with the main seating and the entrances to the building revamped.
A BYM spokesperson stressed that plans are at a very early stage and that artists’ impressions show only possibilities. Firm commitments include solar panels, energy-efficient lighting, wall insulation and heat-exchange systems.
A statement from BYM promised that the new layout will give disabled people ‘the same opportunities as other visitors’.
‘We want Friends House to exemplify our Quaker testimonies to simplicity, integrity, peace and equality, and to demonstrate our commitment to sustainability,’ said Jonathan Fox, clerk to trustees. The trustees minuted their desire to use Friends’ House ‘to project Quakerism to London and throughout Britain’.
The changes will be funded with money gained from the recent sale of a long lease on Courtauld House, the former home of the Quaker International Centre. The work will begin in 2013. The architects, John McAslan and Partners, are working with Camden Borough Council and the Listed Building Consent Panel.
Most of the changes will affect the large meeting room, which seats around one thousand people. As well as hosting BYM, it is often hired by campaigners, charities and trades unions.
Campaigning Muslim journalist Yvonne Ridley told the Friend that anti-war gatherings had given Friends’ House an important place in her heart. She described it as ‘a place for the people’.
‘When it is packed, that room is electric,’ she said, ‘If the wood panelling or decor was removed or changed, it would remove the atmosphere as well’.
Eleanor Jackson of Cotteridge Meeting told the Friend that she is opposed to any suggestion of removing the gallery. She said it allows people with childcare responsibilities to leave sessions early without disrupting them. ‘This idea is lunacy and disadvantages people,’ she said, ‘I thought we were about equality’.
James Tweedie, a trade unionist and frequent visitor to Friends’ House, said that while he thinks the gallery adds ‘to the beauty of the hall’, he finds the seats very uncomfortable.
BYM’s spokesperson emphasised that no final decision has yet been made on integrating the gallery with the main seating, but that the floor is likely to be raised, removing stairs and making the room more accessible. She said the proposals will not reduce the overall seating capacity.
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