Chapel for the Salvation Army
101 Queen Victoria Street, London
Building architect: Sheppard Robson, London
Engineer: Ove Arup & Partners, London
2002 - 2004

The headquarters of the Salvation Army is on one of the most significant public routes in London, between the Tate Modern art gallery, the new Millennium footbridge over the Thames and St. Paul's Cathedral. The architects have opened up the entrance area of the building with two floors of clear glazing on the facade and a void over the basement cafe and exhibition area, providing a bridge over which to cross into the entry area of the building. The chapel spans from the inset floors of the General's suite at first floor to the front facade, projecting into the street over the front entrance. The chapel represents the spiritual calling at the heart of the mission of the Army and is also physically in the centre of the facade of the new headquarters building and over the entrance. It is therefore, despite its small size, extremely significant for the sense of identity of the building, and for the Army itself. The chapel could be seen, literally and symbolically as a beacon in its surroundings, but almost paradoxically, it must also function as a calm and peaceful space for reflection within the hustle and bustle of the administration of this busy international organization.

In 2005 the project was short-listed for the Bombay Sapphire Award and for the ACE / RIBA Award for Religious Architecture.

The glowing light from within the chapel provides a focus for the facade of the building from the outside and also for the life of the building from inside. Two glass surfaces, one coloured inside another of translucent panels, provide a cavity which can be lit from within and which also serves to insulate the chapel from the sounds of the entrance area and cafe. At the outer end of the chapel, projecting into the daylight, a series of partially-reflective and translucent blades reflect a view of the sky to the viewer in the chapel while simultaneously obscuring the direct view of the wall outside, and of the chapel from the exterior. The unexpected view of the sky within the chapel provides a transformed view of what normally passes unnoticed. The constantly changing London sky is brought into the space to allow the occupant the time and peace of mind to contemplate. The clouds move; the light changes over the course of the day and through the seasons. The occupant of the chapel is reminded of the fleeting nature of our experience of the world but also its timeless qualities.