Ysbryd o cymru 170224

Photograph of Mwnt Chapel by Will Miners

overview There are some eight hundred traditional churches and chapels in the rural and coastal communities of Wales.

Small chapels and churches are a defining component of the rural and cultural landscape of rural wales With dwindling congregations many face an uncertain future, many falling into a cycle of disuse and disrepair.

Cycling and tourism Background: use terry’s document as appendix; jl involvement Small chapels and churches are a defining component of the rural and cultural landscape of rural wales There are some eight hundred traditional churches and chapels in the rural and coastal communities of Wales.

With dwindling congregations many face an uncertain future, many falling into a cycle of disuse and disrepair.

Many are beautiful, are in beautiful places, and are of high heritage value.

Quote about rural tourism from WG “To maintain and enhance the pattern of traditional chapels, churches and associated buildings…”

Jl develop strategy document working title ‘Eglwys y Bicio’

A new life This proposal suggests a sustainable future for these buildings by creating a tourism business that will celebrate the cultural and heritage values of these buildings and provide a model for continued community engagement and use.

Spirit of Wales will be a chain of touring cyclists accommodation giving these buildings a new life.

The structure, fabric and spiritual essence of theses places will be restored and maintained. They will become a unique form of accommodation, part bunkhouse, part hotel.

Simple, stylish, iconic. Little buildings with a loud voice.

Booking, sales and marketing will be centrally managed, with provision of on-site services including maintenance, cleaning, produce provided, where possible, in partnership with the local community.

The small chapels and churches of rural West Wales are places of unique historic and cultural significance, built to serve small communities and to nourish their spiritual life.

This proposal suggests a sustainable future for these buildings by creating a tourism business that will celebrate the cultural and heritage values of these buildings and provide a model for continued community engagement and use.

Buildings will be restored and maintained, provide visitors with a unique window to the history of these small communities and a true experience of 'sense of place'.

Concept principles

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The pattern of traditional chapels, churches and associated buildings are a distinct feature of the Welsh rural landscape.

A distinct fusion of active and heritage tourism.

The churches and chapels can be the storytellers, and the guides.

Design approach Buildings will have differing constraints/opportunities: location, access, arrangement, existing services and scale.

The design approach responds to these specifics whilst creating a consistent approach to the designed elements.

The ‘style’ created by the design, together with the particular qualities of the existing fabric will be the most important physical manifestation of the brand.

The use of installed furniture serving as sleeping pods and other service modules within the buildings means almost all non-restoration works will be off-site. The pods will be modular and expandable. All lighting will be ultra-low power consumption.

Heating will be to pod interiors only, utilizing efficient propane based yacht heating technology.

Design principles

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Design: The hub, the base camp The mothership.

The rural buildings are the satellites at the end of the spokes.

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The town hubs are the clubhouses of the enterprise.

A great place to gather, meet, exchange, prepare & relax.

Mud Dock cafĂŠ and bar, Bristol

The simple comfort, style, great local food & drink, music and events will make it where tourist and locals alike will want to be.

Carmel chapel, Conwy

Caravan restaurant, London

Design: the small rural church/chapel model Sleeping pods: simple & stylish installed components using recycled/ timbers, (doulas fir/pitch pine). Where church furniture is no longer required (pews) elements or material to be reused in the creation of new installations

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Design: Remote services building Existing sanitary, drainage and other mechanical services within existing buildings will be minimal or none.

Guests will require WC, shower, and cycle servicing facilities. Depending on site constraints the strategy would be to provide these services in a remote discreet prefabricated timber building.

Church of St Michael, Llanfihangel tor y Mynydd . Photo Nic Trott

Design: single use fitout ‘the hinterland’. small buildings For group or family use where no prospect of ongoing community use.

Low cost highly contextual. Materials and furnishings reclaimed, fittings re-purposed, atmospheric, highly special, high press value.

Corrour is one of the UK's most remote holiday des na ons. Situated 11 miles from the nearest public road, the estate's co ages provide guests with the chance to experience the true beauty of the Sco sh highland wilderness.

The old Chapel is posi oned in the wild Victorian gardens of Corrour Lodge, right on the bank of Loch Ossian. h p://www.corrour.co.uk/accomoda on/ chapel

The brand.

Patina, use, smells. Texture. A sort of sensory heritage.

Sense of place, Sense of community, sense of Wales.

Entering these chapels and churches will be an intense sensory experience. This is what the brand will be built around.

The small chapels and churches of rural west wales are places of unique community and cultural significance, built to serve small communities and to nourish their spiritual life.

These buildings have a spare simple beauty, And are often located in beautiful pristine landscapes.

Eglwys y bicio (church of cycling) is a chain of unique cyclists accommodation and giving these building a new life. we will maintain the unique structure, fabric and spiritual essence of theses places whilst providing simple stylish overnight accommodation guests will enjoy a window to the history of these small communities and a true experience of 'sense of place'.

Booking and guest services Smartphone apps will make things simpler and allow guests to manage their own stay. A guest will be able to book a bed pod, sauna slot, local produce box at the Tabor in Cefn Coed from the local hub, their smartphone, or any other accommodation within the group.

Guests will use a check-in and purchase app incorporating a booking engine, secure payment system. Access to accommodation and purchase of other services will be by digital ID and scanner.

Website/ mobile app The mobile app will help craft the visitor experience in the area. The top-five beaches to visit, restaurant, pub and location recommendations, local hidden gems. a travel guide for customers helping map out their itinerary and create a better experience

Website/ mobile app The website will be designed with an emphasis for use on mobile devices.

Graphic branding

Flexible banding motifs based on 1)spokes: Motif based on traditional spoke pattern of cycle wheel, can be also seen as sunburst roundel of circular church window.

2) chapel silhouette: Based on traditional welsh chapel form, specifically Mwnt chapel near Cardigan

The Cyclists' Touring Club, commonly known as the CTC, is the United Kingdom's largest cycling membership organisation. It was established in 1878 as the 'Bicycle Touring Club', making it the oldest national tourism organisation of any description in the world.

Pilot programme and audit Identification of 6-8 buildings in between Newport and Newquay from which a single fully developed proposal can be created.

County councils: Ceredigion Carmarthen Pembrokeshire

Newquay Penbryn Cardigan Newport

Llandysul Cilgerran Newcastle Emlyn

Community councils: Newquay Llandisiliogogo Penbryn Aberporth Pen-parc Beulah Newcastle Emlyn Cardigan St dogmaels Cilgerran Newport

In the subject area the RCAHMW* register identifies some 25 churches and 75 chapels of all denominations.

The next stage of the project will be to carry out an audit to identify candidate churches and chapels categorized by level of use, listing status, condition, amenities/ services, ownership and suitability for the proposed scheme.

Preliminary identification research can be carried out online through the resources of RCAHMW, Church in Wales, Friends of friendless etc. From these a shortlist of perhaps 20 properties can selected in consultation with owners and community representatives for site assessment and final selection. *Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales

Illustra ve representa on of distribu on of church/chapels with central hub based on Cardigan

Produced by James Lynch January 2017 All concepts, designs and content Š James Lynch 2017 Telephone 01239 623 772 james.lynch@bigft.co.uk