St Patricks Parish had small existing washrooms and a kitchen that had reached the end of their serviceable lifespan. Larkin was tasked with replanning and renovating these spaces so that they were serve the community life of the Parish for the 50+ years.
Beyond creating a functional and durable space, one of the primary goals was creating a pleasant space to be in that enhances the joy and comfort of occupying the church.
The existing kitchen was a back of house space, largely enclosed with a traditional pass-through window, common for church kitchens.
The design was to incorporate a large 8 foot wide door, essentially a moving wall, that slides open to reconceive what was a back of house space into a front of house space. The gesture of opening this large sliding door removes the barrier between those who are served and those who serve. It also allows for southern light to enter the Parish Hall and foregrounds those who serve in a celebratory light.
The kitchen concept is based on the idea of a "kitchen table" that brings the family together. A large 10 foot long kitchen island with pendant light above and integrated prep sink allows for a large group to work together around the same surface. A decorative range hood cover helps to anchor the double kitchen range on the east wall.
The full-height cabinets conceal an integrated coffee making station and storage area to allow countertop space to be kept open. And rolling cart storage, very handy for wheeling coffee carafes or refreshments out into the hall, was also given a home below the island so that carts would not impede on circulation space.
Rolling cart storage concealed below island
The existing washrooms were cramped and had long lines on Sundays, especially at the female washrooms, so the existing male and female washrooms were redesigned to become a single washroom for the female washrooms and an existing room across the Narthex became the new male washroom. Simple, durable finishes were utilized to create a cost-effective design.
An often overlooked dimension of sacred space design is the quiet art of shaping spaces that invite stillness. The most powerful sacred places do more than accomodate gathering and house activity—they draw us in, and invite us to rest and remain. Such spaces help us come to know the beauty of creation more deeply, the joy of life together more fully, and the power of being still with oneself.