The St John’s Paddington site has frontages to Oxford Street, Regent Street and Renny Lane to the south. The redevelopment incorporates a unique square on Oxford Street which re-engages the community with the significant heritage architecture through retail space in the church and a contemporary kiosk. The kiosk’s open framed structure and outdoor seating area will allow the heritage listed Old Manse and church to be fully visible from Oxford Street whilst creating a civic space for public interaction.
The public realm of Oxford Street is complimented by high quality residential apartments delicately woven into the heritage character of the church hall and the New Manse facing Renny Lane. The residential component consists of seven new high quality apartments on Renny Lane, two town homes inserted into the existing sandstone envelope of the Church Hall and the restoration of the New Manse into a freestanding three bedroom federation house. The design concept respects the quality of the diverse fabric, through a restrained architectural approach in the use of selected materials, the composition of the new elements and scale of the building forms.