Mather & Co make-over for Liverpool Anglican Cathedral

The Liverpool Anglican Cathedral is revamping its interiors and has appointed Mather & Co to undertake the five-figure redesign project.

The consultancy was drafted in following a four-way pitch, held six weeks ago, to redesign its interiors and create its first interactive exhibition and ‘walk-through experience’, in the 100- year-old building.

The Wilmslow-based design consultancy is tasked with redesigning the cathedral’s existing 280m2 shop, restaurant and coffee bar area. The coffee bar is situated on the mezzanine level and seats up to 60 people, while the restaurant seats up to 120. The interior concepts for all of the designs will be inspired by the architecture of the building itself. The work is expected to be completed by next August.

Mather & Co is also developing an exhibition trail consisting of 12 interactive stations, which will inform visitors about the cathedral’s history.The information points will include a variety of interactive items designed to educate visitors, such as audiovisual exhibits displayed on screens and relevant historical artefacts.

According to Chris Mather, managing director at Mather & Co, a key feature of the exhibition will be an ‘immersive’ theatre show, screening computer-generated films.

‘We are doing a lot with light and sound here. In general, churches are becoming very keen to look at alternative ways of earning money, to generate a second income [that can be] put back into the church itself,’ he explains.

The consultancy is also starting phase two of its project, to refurbish the Wyvern Theatre in Swindon and ‘refresh’ its reception area, coffee bar and booking office.