CHURCH CAFE EXPANSION & GREENHOUSE PAVILION

Over the past decade, Crosslight Church transformed one of its former classrooms into a small café that quickly became a community gathering spot. However, the space lacked natural light — the original church façade had no windows on this side, leaving the café dim and disconnected from the outdoors. After years of feedback from visitors who found the interior dark and enclosed, a redesign was proposed to reintroduce daylight and strengthen the connection to nature.

The first phase focused on introducing new window openings that align with the church’s existing rhythm and proportions, restoring balance and visual harmony to the façade. In the second phase, a greenhouse pavilion extends the café outward, providing a bright, all-season environment that remains usable even during colder months. The pavilion’s glazing allows natural light to filter into both the addition and the original café, while passive heating and ventilation strategies ensure comfort without the need for mechanical HVAC systems. During summer, retractable shading moderates sunlight while maintaining transparency and cross-ventilation through wide sliding doors that open fully to the landscape.

This expansion preserves the church’s architectural character while creating a more inviting, sustainable, and flexible gathering space for the community.