Johnson Chapel at Trinity School, Manhattan, Butler Rogers Baskett Architects, 2009

Inspirational control of light in this chapel found at archidose...

To prevent the intrusion of mechanical systems into the sleek minimalism of the chapel (no grills or vents are in evidence), the bed of rock in which the cross is placed covers the ventilation system where air is introduced into the room, and the lowered ceiling plane of the light well hides the returns as well as providing the beams that rake the light diagonally along the wall.

3-D Acoustic Wallpaper from Recycled Paper

Mio also offers an affordable and stylist acoustical solution:  a three-dimensional recycled paper wall-covering that can be installed temporarily simply with double-stick tape or permanently with wallpaper paste.  Modularity allows for custom configurations:  $34 per 13 inch by 12 inch panel.

Modular Cardboard Partitions

As more churches meet in temporary locations, reconfigure spaces designed for other functions, or simply choose designs with maximum flexibility, next-generation products for partitioning spaces are required...forget the clunky folding walls lately seen in the fellowship hall. 

"Made from recycled, double-wall cardboard, Nomad is a modular architectural system that can be assembled into free-standing, sculptural screens, temporary partitions, rooms or even displays without hardware, tools or damage to existing structures. Available in nine colors, Nomad can be arranged into open or closed configurations; creating private environments or light and airy dividers. The Nomad system can be configured to create entry-ways and corners, easily adjusting to any indoor space. "

Designed by Jaime Salm and Roger Allen and sold through Mio at $56 for one 24 module set, which creates a 4.5 ft x 4.5ft section with open configuration ir a 3 ft x 4.5 ft section with closed configuration.

Foldable Cardboard Furniture from Foldschool

Foldschool "is a collection of free cardboard furniture for kids, handmade by you. The downloadable patterns can be printed out with any printer." 

Follow the instructions (definitely try the sample first to learn the techniques); and the pieces are surprisingly stable and chic.  May not last forever forever but if recycled cardboard (4 mm single layer) is used the price is definitely right.  We've been renovating the nurseries at my own church and these are on my list for the next work day...

Sculptural Lighting by Josh Jakus

Well-designed lighting can be incredibly expensive...designer Josh Jakus simply provides a curly recycled plastic housing for a standard compact fluourescent bulb for a sculptural accent fixture.  Available for $35 (small) and $45 (large) at Fuz.  Very nice for a lobby or gathering space.

Ukrainian Wooden Churches

I love vernacular church buildings that speak the local language...here, two of the wooden churches of the Ukraine.  What does it say about modern American church architecture that most buildings speak the language of the shopping mall?

"The wooden churches in the Carpathians have a building tradition which is over 1000 years old and which extends into our own time. On the territory of Ukraine alone there are over 1,800 properties which in their diversity and typology reflect the history of the different ethnic groups who live there. "
 [source]

If you want to build your own, the book of Ukranian Wooden Churches is online complete with joinery diagrams.  

Field Chapel, Boedigheim Germany, Students of the College of Architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology, 2009

"In January of 2008, the Reverend Moser-Feesche contacted Ecker Architekten with the intent to build a chapel. He had no funding, held no property, and did not have the support of his con-gregation. He did however, have a specific idea about what this building should be and where it should be located."

"...when arriving at the site, a narrow footpath leads between an existing hedge and the blank tower facade to a small gravel forecourt, which is bounded on 2 sides with massive benches made of local limestone. This forecourt represents the secular realm. A brick platform rises from this forecourt, upon which visitors enter a closed patio and ultimately the sanctuary. This platform traverses the profane to the divine."

"Apart from the architectural filigree of the tower enclosure, the building appears traditional in its construction. It has a simple shape, and is formally related to both the Biblical Temple of Solomon and to vernacular tobacco-drying barns still found in the region.

The entire wooden construction rests on 8 steel moment-frame anchors, which are sized to expose a thin gap between the massive brick platform and the timber structure. This articulated joint makes the heavy building appear to hover weightlessly above the ground plane."

photos and text from archdaily.

Bornhouse Chapel, Venice Biennale, 2009

Chapel within a church, constructed by Russian architectural consortium bornhouse in the San Stae church for the Venice Biennale. Luminous, simple design well-suited for a free standing structure as well. There is a video of the grid-based construction at the link.

I believe these are laser-cut wood panels...I'm interested in how this sort of delicate screening effect could be applied to the monolithic expanses of steel and glass seen so often in American church construction.

Chaplets

The chaplets of Marjorie Schlossman are 'sacred spaces, open to the public, open to people of all religious and secular belief systems, free of charge, and full of art.'

In 2001, Marjorie purchased a mid-twentieth century buildingin downtown Fargo, North Dakota, and 'hired architect Bruce Hella to renovate it, instructing him to fill it with light from as many sources as possible. A plunging skylight on the roof, curved interior glass block walls and wide storefront windows bring light in from all four directions.

Three long walls of this “ecumenical meditation or art chapel” contain Marjorie’s vibrant canvases. The artist has compared the three walls to the movements of a symphony, thereby linking her three passions – art, music and architecture – through the creation of this beautiful space', which opened to the public in 2002 free of charge.

'The completion and success of the Roberts Street Chapel compelled Marjorie to create more structures with the same purpose.' In 2006 she enlisted six area architects to create inspiring, portable spaces for under $25,000, to which she added her art on walls, ceilings and floors.

The chaplet in the first two photos above, by Richard Moorhead and sons, used looping carbon-coated fiberglass rods that sway in the wind like prairie grasses to echo the shape of the Conestoga wagons that crossed the Great Plains.

'The Roberts Street Chaplet Project opened in July 2006 on the grounds of the North Dakota Museum of Art in Grand Forks, North Dakota. After a month’s stay there, it moved to an unusual site in Fargo – the parking lot between a Sears and Best Buy store outside West Acres Mall. '

Images and text from Marjorie's website; more info at Metropolismag

Inspired by the Apocalypse

The magnesium and glass furniture for Saint Eucaire’s Church in Metz designed by Frank Stanimira Rafaschieri is startling in its gothic setting, much like the Panton chairs in St. Bartholomew. It takes as its equally startling inspiration the mysterious and troubling Apocalypse.

[text edited from an account at yatzer.com]

"For two thousand years, the Apocalypse has been a continuous source of inspiration. Many works of art represent the vision of the future World described in the New Testament. The Apocalypse ends with the vision of the heavenly Jerusalem, the story which began with the expulsion of man from Paradise Land finished with his ascension to a new heaven and a new earth." Those who ascend can quench their thirst at the river water of life and eat from the tree of life...living water flowing from magnificent fountains in the middle of a garden paradise. In the project design, we sought to represent water, and the source of life, raised several times in the texts.

The spirals in the work are its organizing motif; a dynamic form symbolizing life, the universe, the mystery of creation and the infinite. Their verticality alludes to ascension.

The elongated oval of the table represents Christ welcoming us with open arms. The posts reflect a fountain flowing water, and are twelve in number, sybolizing the foundations of the Holy City and the apostles of Jesus.

In the pulpit the spirals represent the vibrations of sound waves--the scope and depth of the voice of God--teaching the Faith. The twists also represent the Alpha and Omega, infinity. The seven posts refer to the seven seals of the Apocalypse, which only the Lamb may break, giving Christ a central role.

[photos via yanko design]

The View Beyond the Pulpit

Behind the pulpit/stage/choir loft/baptistry (depending on your configuration) is at worst a blank wall, at best some stained glass. I like the approach of the Casa da Musica, Porto, Portugal, with a view to the wider world outside.

Great Design from Cheap Materials - 5

Tree Table by Sebastián Errázuriz .

In most building projects there are at least a few uprooted trees; a stunning design for an altar (or any other) table.

Friday Feature Church: Shadyside Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh

As modern churches wrestle with new worship styles and how they affect the physical structure of the church and its furnishings, it is always instructive to look back at the past for what we might learn.

Things are changing now, but they've changed before. And they will again.

Consider the Shadyside Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

(Shadyside, 1875)

"The sanctuary as built in 1890 was very much of its time. Before the mid-nineteenth century, the two predominant sanctuary arrangements were the nave-chancel and the meetinghouse. The former, an ancient arrangement, is well suited to worship that is liturgical, processional and centered on the eucharistic rite. Clergy perform the rite within the chancel and the congregation observes from a long, narrow nave. By comparison, the meetinghouse shape is adapted for preaching and hearing. The room is wide and the depth of the room short – to minimize the distance from pulpit to listener.



(Shadyside, 1890)


Two seemingly incompatible trends – revivalism and a liturgical movement – combined to create a worship space not terribly different than a theater. The Second Great Awakening in the early 1800s was driven by emotional preaching from a stage-like structure with the people arrayed around it. Conversion of lost souls predominated over participatory worship. Later in the century, some congregations came to consider this insufficiently sophisticated for their needs and status. Churches favored more structured worship orders with greater reliance on music and ritual, while still stressing preaching.


A theater arrangement resulted. A stage with a modest pulpit offered the preacher a prominent platform, with freedom of movement. A pipe organ and choir or quartet served as back-drop and satisfied the desire for more formal music. The seating was arrayed in a semi-circle in a proportion neither narrow as a nave nor broad as a meetinghouse. The auditorium floor was often sloped up from front-to-back to promote good visibility and hearing from each seat...This shape was touted in local newspaper accounts, which also noted that all seats faced the preaching position.

The prominent position of the choir and organist suited the growing mid-nineteenth century emphasis on music. Through much of the twentieth century, a skepticism about “performance” in worship moved choirs away from front and center. (In some quarters, this has reversed again, with praise bands playing and singing from stages in “contemporary” worship.) ....By the third and fourth decades of the twentieth century, ideas about worship space were changing in the United States . Many “mainline” churches responded to yet another liturgical impulse. A more archeological correct neo-Gothic movement in architecture prescribed a nave chancel-arrangement.



(Shadyside, post 1938)

Shadyside responded in 1937-38. That change placed a greater specific emphasis on worship in both Word and Sacrament. Four specific liturgical centers (pulpit, lectern, table and font) are in prominent view. It accords well with the present order of worship, increased frequency of communion and high standard of preaching. In fact, a case can be made that the architecture has influenced worship as well as responded to it. "


What 'innovations' that we are making now will be discarded? Which will be kept?

How do we make a building that will be flexible enough to remain in use (as has Shadyside) for over 100 years?

Having Church Outside--Community Church, Simi Valley, California

The most innovative feature of Community Church's building plan for a 138 acre site is the decision to have church outdoors--in an outdoor sanctuary, and save the millions of dollars that would have been spent on the building for direct ministry use.

From their website:

"In developing our property we want to reflect the loving/giving nature of God. We want to build an outdoor amphitheatre rather than an auditorium so we can give more to the poor. We want to provide land to Children's Hunger Fund to support and serve children in need locally and internationally. We want to create a park-like atmosphere for our community to enjoy.

Cornerstone Community Church & Eternity Bible College Facilities
Outdoor Sanctuary – 3,000-person capacity
Gym/Multi-Purpose Building – 1,000-person capacity
Chapel/Multi-Purpose Building – 300-person capacity
Administration Building with Library
Classroom Buildings
Maintenance and Restroom Buildings
Children's Hunger Fund Facilities
Administration Building and Learning Center
Warehouse/Packing Buildings
Athletic Fields
3.8 acres of shared-use athletic fields (no night lighting)
Use by local community will be encouraged
Onsite Wastewater Treatment Facility
Creates tertiary-treated recycled water for irrigation
Comparable to other systems used in unincorporated County areas
Onsite Parking Facilities
2,000 parking spaces
Eco-friendly "grass-crete" pavement
Open Space
Approximately 58.8 acres of preserved open space
Only 3% of total site area developed

While year-round church outdoors is only a realistic option for friendly climates (Community Church is located in Simi Valley, California), it's high time for a rethink of vast, expensive spaces used once a week.

I admire Community Church's well-thought out expression of goals for the site, and the innovative solution they found to ensure that what they build is in keeping with what they value.

My church is also blessed with a large site--100 acres--and plans to develop part of it as community park space. We hope to include an outdoor amphitheatre, though our climate won't allow it to be in use year round.

Inspiring!

Cheap Fix - Linoleum remnant flooring

Above, a lineoleum remnant floor as a study model, partially laid, and completed. Via materialicio.us , this lineoleum is a surprisingly stylish fix for the church kitchen, or for nursery or youth areas where a hard floor is required. As indicated, make a quick study model before laying the floor. And use the 'real' linoleum, whose color goes all the way through and is highly scratch resistant, rather than the cheap plastic flooring sometimes referred to as linoleum.

It appears that the red linoleum has been used on the countertops as well...another 'cheap fix' which can be finished off with either a wood or aluminum trim piece on the counter's face.

In my neck of the woods, lino remants can be found at salvage yards and the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

Youth space DIY Round-Up

DIYable ideas for the youth room: (top to bottom) fluffy clouds made from coffee filters, tennis ball table (lots of hot glue needed), bicycle wheel table, and some funky lighting that looks to me like it is made of guttering that has holes drilled in and rope lights passed through.

'Nappak' for temporary shelter

Churches have traditionally served as gathering places in times of disaster, and my church wants to intentionally plan for this eventuality in design of the new buildings.

Part of that involves being equipped to provide temporary sleeping arrangements....the traditional solution for this is your basic cot, but the 'Nappak' seems a much better answer, providing at least a modicum of privacy that might help victims feel a bit more comfortable in spite of disorienting circumstances. And packing small for storage.

It seems to only be available in Germany at the present time.

Inspired by School Architecture

What does it mean to be making the 'place' of a church?

I've been learning from a document I ran across called "Enabling Place-Making: The Role of the School in Supporting the Community", by Prof. John Worthington, with its thoughts on what school architecture should mean and be.

One of the primary functions of the church is, of course, pedagogical, and so it is no great surprise that many of the principals translate well to thinking about the use and design of sacred architecture...replace 'school' with 'church' and you'll see what I mean.

"Buildings, well considered, can provide support to users by being:

• efficient, by achieving more with less, reducing running costs and using space well;


• effective, by improving staff and student satisfaction, adapting to new ways of teaching, attracting community commitment and improving learning outcomes;


• expressive, of the values of the school and the community. The building, its fit-out and the way it is managed, can be used to transmit ideas and knowledge."

Many churches I've been in are poorly designed for all three. Modern churches, in particular, seem downright afraid of any expression of values, which is why they tend to be shopping-mall bland.

The conclusion of the article has fascinating implications for churches as well:

"Traditional categories of space are becoming less meaningful as boundaries blur and space becomes less specialised. Educational space needs are designed primarily around patterns of human interaction rather than the needs of particular subjects or technologies. New space models are focused as much on enhancing the quality of life as on supporting the learning experience. Circulation becomes the focus for interaction and informal learning.

Space is planned to:

• support mobility, with touch-down settings, an abundance of power outlets, and movable furniture, and a rich variety of settings;


• enrich pathways, by designing for chance encounters, encouraging the creation of ad-hoc workplaces, and providing opportunities for creative interaction;


• blend and blur activities, for working, talking, eating and relaxing, by overlapping information-based work with entertainment, food and leisure.

Success comes through engagement, continuous commitment and attention. Space can be more than an irritant left to others. Space can be the catalyst for achieving pedagogical goals and improving performance."

What does it mean to design a church around patterns of human interaction? As I think about my church's new building(s), my primary inspiration for educational space is not other churches, but innovative schools.

[above, the Shiroishi #2 Municipal Primary School, Tokyo, by Taro Ashihara]