An over 56-year-old gurdwara in Wolverhampton has been given the go-ahead for a major revamp, as it makes way for a grander place of worship and community space.
Wolverhampton City Council granted the planning application by the Committee of the Shri Guru Ravidass Temple on Dudley Road in Wolverhampton, which will make way for a brand-new two-storey gurdwara that will “contribute positively to the character of the local area and the street scene, and create a more useable community space”. The Shri Guru Ravidass Dharmik Sabha, registered with the Charity Commission, hopes to accommodate over 1,200 worshippers once the newly landscaped temple is opened to the community.
John Thorne of Thorne Architecture Ltd in Wolverhampton, which is in charge of the project, told iGlobal: “We at Thorne Architecture are honoured to assist the members of the temple in the design and construction of their new Ravidassia Temple, which will accommodate 800 worshippers in the main hall and 400 in the ground floor worship space.”
The Wolverhampton City Council granted planning permission earlier this month saying the proposed development was acceptable in terms of its appropriate design, scale, mass and location.
“The proposal includes the demolition of the existing single storey temple building and the erection of a new two-storey temple building. The new building will be set back from the main road and the adjacent Lexus House building with landscaping and a new front boundary wall and railings,” the application reads.
The planning application notes how the existing building has evolved since the establishment of the temple in 1967, originally a simple hall space with modest ancillary accommodation.
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The existing kitchen and dining area are a simple utilitarian structure. The only key to the use of the current building is a sign outside and in all other respects the building is “anonymous and unassuming”.
The proposed revamp is to provide a new principal worship space at first floor level. The existing worship space is to be retained as a community hall and function room. The first floor will be reached via grand stairs, which lead from the ground floor foyer to a generous landing and processional space into the worship area. The worship area will be dominated by a dome in the roof surrounded by glass. Under the dome will sit a takh or raised dais, upon which the ‘Guru Granth Sahib’ (holy book and living guru) will be supported by Manji Sahib (stool). Over the takh will be a palki (canopy) protecting the holy book and providing a clear focus to the room.
The building is to be constructed of red brick, a material indigenous to Punjab and Wolverhampton. Openings are to be trimmed and dressed with red sandstone, which is a reference to the local sandstone which manifests itself in the countryside surrounding Wolverhampton.
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