Manresa House Progress

Working with the Society of Jesus, we are altering and significantly extending their existing novitiate in Harbourne, Birmingham known as Manresa House.

Envisaged as a ‘monastery in the city’ a novitiate is a place of residence and training for prospective members of the Society who come to live at Manresa House during the first two years of their training. This group of ’novices’ is supported by a small group of permanent residents. The key design drivers have been maximising the connections with the large landscaped garden, providing clarity to the circulation and creating a highly sustainable building that will be able to serve the community and domesticity as well as carefully balancing the requirements of openness and privacy, collective and private study as well as a quiet and reflection.

Image descriptions –
View from Albert Road.
Facade textures – Brick, stone and terracotta.
Fluted terracotta within post and lintel.
New internal signage – Futura on blue ceramic tile.