A major extension to an Arts Centre based in an historic chapel. The site sits between two important Listed Buildings. The design proposed a new ‘prism’ foyer to link the two listed buildings, with an adjoining copper-clad auditorium. The extension knits together the existing historic urban fabric, providing new public space, improvements to accessibility, a second multi-use performance venue.

Located to the north-east of an existing 1980s brick church, the extension contains a multi-purpose hall with a kitchen and storage. The hall complements the existing buildings and takes advantage of its elevated position, framing views across Derby in the large picture window on its west elevation. The clear simple form allows the hall to assert its presence without ‘cluttering’ the site or overwhelming the church. 

The main entrance and link between the old and new is constructed of blue facing brick and this is carried through to the ‘plinth’ of the new hall. This has the effect of highlighting the entrance, whilst emphasising the continuity between the two parts. The hall is constructed as a simple brick box, finished in buff facing brick maintaining the language of the form.

The project won last year’s Presidents’ Award, presented by the Ecclesiastical Architects and Surveyors Association president and the National Churches Trust’s joint presidents (the Archbishops of Canterbury and York) for its ‘bold’ addition to St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church.

This building for young children is designed with a strong secure exterior, based on a 'castle' theme. The protective brick walls enclose a central courtyard which is sunny and airy, with access from the cafe, training rooms, office and nursery. At one corner is a 'Sensory tower' which acts as a beacon in the neighborhood. Its a strong client-orientated identity acted as a 'flagship' building for the regeneration of the area. 

'Many thanks for all your efforts and hard work in creating our super new classrooms' 
Brenda Smith, Head, Colmanhay Primary School

Commissioned by Derbyshire County Council Social Services as a benchmark centre to meet the needs of People with profound, complex and multiple disabilities. A 'Learning Disability Community Team' are based in the centre to offer discreet and accessible services to help people with learning disabilities and their carers attain independence and inclusion in the local community. The building provides the Local Authority with a modern 'state of the art' resource. 

'We have appointed Evans Vettori on a wide range of projects over the past few years and are pleased with their problem-solving skills, design flair, their conscientious and thorough approach'
John Ellis, Head of Design Services, Derbyshire County Council

Newlyn Art Gallery is the refurbishment of a listed Art Gallery to provide flexible exhibition spaces for changing shows.

In 1895 Passmore Edwards paid for a new Art Gallery to exhibit paintings by the famous ‘Newlyn School’. The gallery had been subject to many alterations since then, including a stairwell in the main gallery added in the 1960’s. Evans Vettori  won the commission through a competition with the building work funded by the ERDF. The project involved rationalisation of circulation routes, a complete strip-out back to the historic fabric, and new finishes throughout.  New lighting and mechanical ventilation had to be threaded through the historic structure.

The new exhibition spaces have proved highly successful, particularly for their flexibility.  Each space allows for complete blackout, sub-division into smaller spaces and traditional wall hanging.

St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Matlock have replaced their
old, temporary, community hall with a permanent building.
This new public building needed a strong presence, belying its
small frontage.
The hall fills a long, thin site running alongside the church.
Executed in local Lumshill stone, the front elevation creates
an impression of permanence and scale, its classically inspired
elements creating dialogue with the Victorian Gothic church
front.
Inside, the stone is brought through to form a tactile wall to
the lobby, whilst the structure of the meeting hall is revealed
as a timber and steel hybrid portal frame.