Citadel Chelmsford

I've been meaning to blip this building for ages. Stuck in a looooong traffic jam gave me the opportunity I was waiting for.

According to the Independent, "In a pokey little street called Baddow Road, the Salvation Army Citadel designed by Anthony Hudson is a remarkable presence specifically because it is not world class. This building is, as it should be, local class."

The Citadel Corps replaced a 1970s building which was badly planned, costly to run, and no longer fit for purpose. The design brief was to create a more practical and usable space within a new building, and one which would reflect the changing and modern face of the Salvation Army. With a limited budget of £2 million for the 900 square metre building, cost efficiency and speed were also paramount. The new building had to be flexible and multi-purpose to support the needs of the church and community. Thus the building needed to include catering facilities, an assembly hall, kids’ creative and outdoor areas, a sports hall, meeting rooms, a hall for worship and singing, and numerous store rooms for all the Sally Army band’s instruments.

Love it or hate it, Battleship Chelmsford is here, big, loud, unashamed, serving the local community. I do love it.