The Archbishop of Melbourne Peter A. Comensoli has launched a 10-year plan to restore and renew St Patrick’s Cathedral, with architecture by Candalepas Associates, in a project titled “Light into the City”.
The cathedral, which was built between 1858 and 1939 to a design by architect William Wardell, is widely recognised as an exemplar of Gothic Revival architecture, featuring towering spires, stained-glass windows and detailed stone carvings. It welcomes close to one million local and international visitors each year.
“For more than 125 years, St Patrick’s Cathedral has been a light into the city; a place of prayer, beauty, welcome and refuge,” Comensoli said. “‘Light into the City’ is about caring for what we have inherited, while ensuring that this cathedral and its precinct can continue to serve the people of Melbourne, Catholics across the archdiocese, and all those who visit through faith, hope and hospitality for generations to come.”
According to a media release from the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne, the plans have been designed with a vision of the precinct “as a place not only for worship, but also for culture, dialogue and connection.” The archdiocese’s aim is for the revitalised precinct to serve “as a spiritual home for Catholics from across the archdiocese and beyond; a place of sanctuary and welcome for all in the heart of the city; a cultural and artistic landmark for Melbourne; [and] a hub for education, outreach and service.”
The communique notes that the first stage of the project involves “necessary and urgent restoration” of St Patrick’s Cathedral, and the construction of a new, adjacent assembly building with flexible event spaces for the congregation and visitors. New landscaping, designed by Chilean landscape practice Teresa Moller Landscape Studio, will also be included within this first stage to make the precinct more accessible and inviting.
A second stage will see the Presbytery and Cardinal Knox Centre, both heritage listed, restored so that they may eventually support arts, cultural and social outreach initiatives. The vision also includes a further, final phase, involving the construction of new facilities for mission agencies, however, this future stage is yet to be developed and is not part of the project’s fundraising.
A total of $190 million will be invested in the precinct. The first stage alone will cost $130 million, of which $90 million has been raised through community donations and $90 million has been committed by the federal government.
The first stage of the project is planned to commence later this year.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
