roof-top facilities on westminster cathedral

[HallamPhil]

I spotted the following on Independent Catholic News:


Rooftop facilities planned for Westminster Cathedral | sushi bar,coffee shop,observation area,Westminster Cathedral

Westminster Cathedral
Plans for a revolving sushi bar, coffee shop and observation area on the roof of Westminster Cathedral are being unveiled later today. The project which has been designed by award-winning Italian architects Credotutti Rovinare working with Dutch design firm Tees Fond E Tett & Partners, will include state-of-the-art solar panels, a wind turbine and other energy-saving features.

The new facility will be entirely wheelchair accessible with glass tubular lifts on the outside of the building. The old Cathedral teashop is being transformed into a youth club for younger Cathedral parishioners.

Mr Rovinare said: "My team was honoured to be given this challenging project. We have studied the plans of the original architect John Francis Bentley and believe that our designs will blend discretely with his work and the modern architecture of Cathedral Place."

He added: "With space at a premium in central London, this is a marvellous use of this building. For the first time in over a hundred years the general public will be able to see the spectacular views over the city."

A Cathedral spokesman said the building work should be completed by 2012 - "in time for the Olympics" - but he said most of the construction work would take place out of hours in order to cause minimum inconvenience to daily activities in the Cathedral.

The £22.5million project is being funded by a Lottery Grant and donations from Friends of Westminster Cathedral.

[Nick Baty]

[nazard]

I believe it is to be opened by the pope who will view the facilities while being carried shoulder high in his sedum tectorum.

[JW]

Off topic perhaps, but St George's Cathedral Soutwark is to hold a joint exhibition with the Imperial War Museum opposite entitled: "Warrior Saints"

In an effort to include all streams of opinion, saints to be featured include:

St Alfred the Great, never officially canonised but venerated by some in the Anglican communion (to include our Anglican sisters and brothers and to back up the feminist proposition that men can't be trusted in domestic issues). His inclusion has been cleared with representatives of the Viking community.
St George (of course), although the Risk Assessment has warned of protests by animal rights campaigners,
Pope St. Leo IV (because the Vatican insisted we remember our Roman catholicity)
St Patrick, St Andrew and St David (not warriors, but we need to include the catholics in Ireland, Scotland and Wales)
St Maximillian Kolbe (prisoner of war and founder of the Militia Immaculata, also added a prayer for Freemasons in the Immaculate Medal Prayer)
St Joan of Arc (token woman)
St Sebastian (gay icon).

Diane Lees, Director General of the Imperial War Museum said: "I am very excited. The plan is to mount the exhibition in the cathedral crypt. So that there is no disruption to Cathedral Services, the exhibition will be accessed via the underground tunnel between the two buildings (an escape tunnel built by patients at Bedlam in 1851 to seek sanctuary within the new Catholic cathedral)"

Archbishop Peter Smith of Southwark . "I share Diane's enthusiam for this project. The crypt has not really been used except for burials and people viewing the exhibition will be able to also see the remains of Fr. Thomas Doyle, thanks to whose vision we are where we are today. Is smoking allowed in the tunnel?"

[presbyter]

opened by the pope... sedum tectorum.

Who will plant a roof garden?

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/1077739852039010605QdtRZF

[Calum Cille]

St Patrick, St Andrew and St David (not warriors, but we need to include the catholics in Ireland, Scotland and Wales)

I can't contain myself. JW, perhaps they should include St Columba who is much more associated with battle than St Andrew. The Scottish population, particularly Highlanders, have a more developed sense of connection with the former than with the latter.

[presbyter]

One of the Cathedral chaplains is reported as saying: "I think many people would like to eat at a revolving sushi bar on top of Westminster Cathedral's roof. Solar panels would also probably help reduce the Cathedral's energy bills - after all, the Vatican is powered by them!"

[Peter]

Rooftop facilities planned for Westminster Cathedral ...

Sounds reminiscent of the "parapet of the temple" (Mt. 4:5 or Lk. 4:9). I hope there will be suitable protection in case people are tempted to throw themselves down to see if they will be supported by angels.

[gwyn]

Yes, I'll be there to support them.