THE HUMANIST CLINIC

by Kai Law

Over the years, the Church of England has been in decline. Thousands of churches are closed down under new plans for adaptive re-use; the old parish system is no longer sustainable. As congregation numbers begin to dwindle, churches are facing years of low occupancy. At the site of Mile End in London, the project explores this scenario of the Guardian Angels Roman Catholic Church undergoing an adaptive reuse programme as a ‘Humanist Clinic’ offering services of body modification and transformation.

The Humanist Clinic draws a parallel between the Catholic and Humanist through a procession journey – the Confession & Consultation Booth, the Baptism & Confirmation Pool and the Inauguration & Surgery Room. These three components are doctored by the new Humanist movement. A new extension inhabits within the adjacent primary school where the doctor (priest) prepares for the sermon and conducts the processional rituals for the vulnerable public.