Chester Cathedral's Song Room extension celebrated by English Heritage

Dec 1 2009 by Laurie Stocks-Moore, Chester Chronicle

CHESTER Cathedral's Song Room extension has been praised by English Heritage.

The building, completed at the end of 2003, was lauded alongside Liverpool's cathedrals in a publication released on Tuesday.

The purpose-built accommodation was designed for the choirs that perform there.

Henry Owen-John, of English Heritage, added: "Cathedrals are inspirational places, but they need to be forward thinking and constantly review how they use these wonderful spaces.

“Our three North West cathedrals highlighted in the publication have each carried out innovative yet sensitive work.”

The publication, Creativity and Care: New Works in English Cathedrals, shows how 16 cathedrals are facing the future by commissioning exciting new projects.

The Song School is described as “a bold solution” in the article.

It continues: “It is generally historicist in approach, without being beholden to any single style, the gentle approach to the past being a deliberate choice arising from the extreme sensitivity of the site with engineering matters requiring care.

“The main room on the upper floor is dominated by a new rose window, possibly the first of the 21st century, throwing copious natural light onto the boys' practice room. The structure is effectively a new eastern range and its simple detailing evokes its lost predecessors, while remaining unmistakably contemporary.”