Stanbrook Abbey
Stanbrook Abbey is a new home for a community of Benedictine nuns, who devote their lives to study, work and prayer. The nuns are a silent and “enclosed” order and lead a contemplative way of life requiring simple, tranquil and beautiful spaces, or as their monastic brief requested – a place where they can ‘pray always’.
Located in the North York Moors National Park, the new site was chosen by the sisters for its “special quality of silence and light” providing them with a peaceful setting for their contemplative life and far-reaching views over the Vale of York. Situated in pastureland, against a backdrop of forestry the new abbey provides cells for 26 nuns, which together with their common facilities, a chapter house and church all share a south facing aspect. The building is embedded in its physically and psychologically setting.
The first phase of the project, completed in 2009, included all the living accommodation. It is based on an orthogonal plan around a central, cloistered courtyard. The church forms an extension to the east and is shared with the public. It was completed in 2015 as part of a second phase of construction. It is more organic in its plan geometry and three dimensional form.
Simplicity, tranquillity and calm were the design qualities the nuns most strongly valued. We felt that an orthogonal plan would be most successful, providing restful vistas and axes, with a courtyard to act as the central focus. The church and chapel provide a more organic counterpoint to the orthogonal plan.
Using a delicate palette of materials and innovative structural solutions we have created a set of spaces that are both inspiring in their visual connections to the surrounding landscape, and simple in their practical details.
Taking full advantage of natural light and views, the monastery relates closely to the surrounding undulating landscape.
The brief required part of the monastery to be entirely private and other areas fully available and welcoming to the public.
Access to the building is from the east side and the views and sunshine are to the south. All shared areas therefore had to be positioned on the east side of the building, with service areas to the north side, leaving the west and south sides to enjoy uninterrupted privacy and views.
Careful attention to a delicate range of resources was the key element in the construction of Stanbrook Abbey and preference was given to materials which are renewable, recycled or have low embodied energy.
We chose indigenous natural materials where possible and locally sourced timber was used to minimise the use of structural steel. Sandstone, formed by recycling off cuts from a local paving manufacturer, was also incorporated into the design and used for cladding in conjunction with oak boarding.
Together with BuroHappold Engineering, we developed a design embracing sustainability, architectural vision and structural innovation. The nuns were keen for the new Abbey to be both economic to run and sensitive to ecological and environmental concerns.
Natural ventilation is used throughout the structure including to the church and chapel, which use wind protected stack vents at high level to draw air through the building. Very high levels of insulation and low energy appliances and fittings were installed as well as a reed bed sewage treatment system.