P r e c e d e n t : sigurd lewerentz : st. peter's church
Once again this building was suggested to me by Richard Leplastrier, during a group discussion (02/03/11) on the notional ideas surrounding our fifth year project. Richard described the building as being the "church of the crucifix", the solemn nature of the spatial experience speaks to the deeper sorrow and pain that was outworked on the cross. The notion of the architecture is seemingly a reminder of what took place on the cross.
Isn't focusing on the solemn moment of the cross missing the whole purpose of the cross?
ReplyDeleteI think there is a shift occurring where people instead of living AT the foot of the cross, live FROM the foot of the cross.
The first is static and leaves the believer continuously reminded of their failings, the later allows the believer to MOVE forward full of joy & hope. They still remember what was done for them and most importantly the outcome. Jesus is not still dead on the cross - He is alive.
We have reason to celebrate and live triumphantly!
I hope your design will be one that facilitates laughter and praise. That it will be an uplifting experience to everyone who enters it!! :)
I completely agree that is where the notion if a spatial pilgrimage is key the new articulation of the church...by creating a architectural experience that leads to the sanctuary the church isn't confined to a single emotive expression within the architecture...
ReplyDeleteThe new issue is to ensure that whilst this jounrey maybe articulated as in the act of worship, like the 15 steps of ascent (psalm 123). It is not theologically the case, should one cross threshold between the "world" and
the church or is it that the church has no walls and is merely a roof which
believers congregate under... The fundamental issue is the desired outcome of the architecture, and I think that in the true nature of Hebrew/Jewish logic both trues are required...they form a higher truth, that the church is in the world, but not of the world, that the church is meant to be present but we are not made for or from this world...