St Mary’s Coptic Church by Studio Bright

Juxtaposed against the red brick of the existing chapel, the contemporary addition to St Mary’s Coptic Church by Studio Bright revitalises the grounds, creating a welcoming space for the wider community while providing essential modern facilities for its parish.

A labour of love, the project has been seven years in the making, with a complex scope that included an Arabic chapel, offices, Sunday School rooms, a community hall, kitchen and cohesive landscaping. Some of these facilities were previously housed in weatherboard ancillary buildings, which were removed to allow the new structure to wrap around the street corner, positioned at an angle to the heritage chapel.

Red brick paving guides visitors to the doors of the new building, visually linking it with the heritage chapel and furthering the design’s open and inclusive spirit.

By removing fencing and adding a walking street between the old and new structures, the church welcomes nearby residents of all faiths to move freely through the grounds. Red brick paving guides visitors to the doors of the new building, visually linking it with the heritage chapel and furthering the design’s open and inclusive spirit.

The building’s many arched doorways and windows pay tribute to Egyptian Coptic Church traditions. Though its contemporary, corrugated precast concrete form might seem worlds apart from these roots, subtle echoes remain in its singular materiality and the regal, gold-tinted metal trimming that links the exterior and interior. Despite its angular shape, the building also maintains a warmth, with lofty walls and a gently pitched roof that reflect the heritage chapel and the neighbouring homes.

Despite its angular shape, the building also maintains a warmth, with lofty walls and a gently pitched roof that reflect the heritage chapel and the neighbouring homes.

The Arabic chapel space is designed so that parishioners face east for prayer, in keeping with Coptic Church traditions. The detailing is exquisite, with the foyer featuring an almost Art Deco-style stairwell adorned with gold balustrading and red brick flooring that flows seamlessly from the outdoors.

In a significant departure from the typical chapel layout, the new building frames a protected yet open north-facing courtyard, home to a children’s play area and a stage for community and church events. This space connects with the street in a welcoming way while also offering a vital place for gathering and conversation after services. With its subtle design that gracefully merges tradition with the church’s modern needs, the new addition integrates effortlessly into the streetscape of this much-loved Melbourne neighbourhood.

Architecture by Studio Bright. Build by SJ Higgins Group. Landscape design by Openwork.