Martyrs Kirk Research Library
Project Description
Martyrs’ Kirk was born of the Disruption in the Church of Scotland (1843). That year, a church was erected in North Street. The present B-listed building dates from 1928. It continued in use until 2010 when a merger with another local congregation took place. The University acquired the redundant property in 2012. It chose to convert the church for two purposes: to provide a quiet reading room for postgraduate students and staff, and to facilitate public access for research into the University Library’s Special Collections. It aimed to provide an inspiring space for study and to relieve pressure on space in the Main Library, the most heavily-used building on campus. The University recognised a need for these facilities, to continue attracting top-rated postgraduates and academics, as a key priority for their 600th anniversary fundraising campaign. Page\Park were appointed architects to develop the brief and prepare design proposals for the interior adaptation. Aside from creating an appealing space for learning, particular consideration was paid to: sympathetic conversion of the sanctuary; installation of efficient heating, LED lighting and energy conservation throughout the open-plan chamber; meeting DDA compliance; and embracing the highest quality materials and standards of finish. Historic Scotland were fully consulted and were supportive throughout. After clearing the floorspace, many features have been retained – pulpit, dedication plaques, organ pipes, wooden-barrelled roof. The exterior protective perspex was lifted from the stained glass windows, which were carefully cleaned and resealed against draughts, to reveal their kaleidoscopic beauty to passers-by as well as visitors. The grid of hot pipes under pews has been replaced by underfloor heating diffused through the original ground-level grilles. Researchers can activate desk panel heaters for a pre-set timespan. Sustainable heat recovery is active and captured using ceiling vents. The withdrawn pews have not been forgotten – several are installed in alcoves or lining corridors where conversations flourish away from the quiet zones; others remain in store for future reuse. Removing the pews and channelling services round the perimeter of the Reading Room could have accentuated the empty magnitude of an old church. However, the configuration of furniture and fitments, while spurning a temptation to utilise excessive height for extra shelving, has created an intimacy within the greater volume. The custom-made writing tables are dispersed among the locally-crafted bookcases; their placement between the pillars creates a new echoing ‘colonnade’ framing reading alcoves, the central reading spine, a raised reading platform in the old chancel and a study area in the side wing. As counterbalance to the stained glass, each bookcase has a screen-printed and backlit wood veneer panel designed by Bespoke Atelier. A remote print hub has been installed below the organ pipes. The integral church hall has been converted from a multi-use void into an intimate Reading Room, a secure domain available to any member of the public or academic studying the University’s Special Collections of rare and early printed books, manuscripts, photographs and institutional archive. Other facilities provided include a Seminar Room for teaching using the collections.