Carmelite nuns were forced to leave their old retreat in West Derby due to the rapid urbanization of this suburb of Liverpool. Now they have moved to the specially built monastic complex of Maryton Grange in Alerton, another Liverpool suburb, which was specially built for them. Commissioned by the sisters, it was erected by the Austin-Smith: Lord bureau, for which this is not the first religious order: the architects have solid experience in conservation, restoration and adaptation to the changing needs of church buildings.
The uniqueness of Maryton Grange lies in the fact that it is the largest new monastery complex in Europe. However, it includes all those premises that can be found in any ancient monastery: the monastic way of life has remained unchanged for many centuries. For the Carmelites, solitude, prayer, contemplation and manual labor are of paramount importance. Therefore, only two rooms are open to the outside world - the church and the guest house, and all the rest - the cloister, the refectory, the library, workshops, cells, hermitages and the infirmary - are intended exclusively for internal use. Exquisite flower beds, an orchard, a vegetable garden and a lake help maintain an appropriate lifestyle.
Neo-modern architecture also strives to exactly correspond to traditional monastic values - to express the spirit of peace and asceticism in a new language, to use clear geometric volumes and simple spatial cells. Brick walls retain their bare texture both on facades and interiors. The clear rhythm of the masonry (becoming more complicated only in the upper zone of the church), which is echoed by the articulation of the metal gratings, emphasizes the neat orderliness of the monastery life. Brick surfaces are cut by rectangular window openings and complemented by light wood doors, stairs and interior items. Cleanliness and tranquility reign in spacious rooms filled with even diffused light. The extremely restrained color scheme in the interior is violated only by colorful abstract-geometric stained-glass windows, and outside - by flowering plants.
The stylistic choice of the nuns will not seem so unexpected if we remember that the Carmelites have long been among the most progressive patrons and customers. Their contribution to the formation of the art of the Italian Renaissance was very noticeable: the Carmelites were among the first to abandon works in the spirit of international Gothic, decisively preferring them the experimental works of Masaccio and Fra Filippo Lippi. The latter belonged to their order and was forced to leave him, kidnapping a nun and marrying her. However, the Carmelites not only did not heap the well-deserved punishments on the artist's head, but proudly declared after his death that he had glorified the order with the eternal glory of his art.
