Details
Project Country: UK
Architect: Aros Architects
Brickwork Contractor: Bishop Ltd
About the project
Positioned at the junction of Lambeth Road and Kennington Road, overlooking the Grade I listed Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Mission is a landmark mixed-use development. The scheme features a striking 12-storey, 137-bedroom hotel, a modern community facility, and two residential apartments reserved for the Methodist Church.
The project replaces a 1950s chapel that no longer met contemporary needs, with a vision to create a dynamic worship space and a suite of flexible work areas to support both the local congregation and the broader community.
Taking over the design at RIBA Stage 3, the architectural team was tasked with refining the inherited concept, preserving its visual impact while ensuring practical constructability. A defining feature of the development is the church's expressive façade, envisioned early on as a fusion of traditional brick craftsmanship and modern building techniques.
The façade spans 12 storeys and is clad in a handmade 40mm bed Janinhoff Klinker brick sourced from Germany. Each brick, with its varied dimensions, natural bowing, and rough edges, posed a significant challenge in terms of laying and alignment. To maintain the integrity of over 105 arches within this complex façade, modern construction methods were specified to achieve the design intent while meeting programme requirements.
Early in the design process, the architects collaborated with IG Masonry Support to develop the project’s signature arches. IG’s Brick Slip Arches were selected for their precision and visual compatibility with traditional brickwork. Close coordination ensured the arches blended seamlessly with surrounding masonry, giving the appearance of hand-laid craftsmanship.
A distinctive design element—referred to as “combing”—involved the meticulous alignment of one arch into the next across each elevation. To achieve this, a bespoke template was created to guide the placement of each brick, ensuring accurate and consistent alignment at every junction.
One of the most complex areas of the build was the terrace, which incorporated 10 interconnected Brick Slip Arches, including five internal and one external corner. Each arch had to meet at six different points while accommodating vertical movement joints—an essential detail to ensure long-term durability.
Due to the surrounding steelwork, the deep soffits encircling the terrace were designed in two separate halves, as a single-piece solution was not feasible. These components were fabricated to meet precisely at the centre, with joints pointed onsite to create a unified appearance.
Test arches were completed and approved before full production, ensuring that the natural finish and aesthetic intent were preserved throughout the build.
The completed Lambeth Mission stands as a testament to thoughtful collaboration, material innovation, and architectural precision. Blending contemporary functionality with heritage-informed design, the development not only revitalises a key urban corner but also reaffirms the site's role as a spiritual and community anchor.
