by Monica Crânganu
The obvious differences between the particularities of each religious
group can be seen particularly in the architectural expression that varies
depending on the area and the moment in time when they were built, and
certainly on the historical context. Through times, Christianity was marked by
schisms and theological disputes that lead to the rise of some distinct
churches and cults. Of these, the most important are the ones represented by
the Orthodox Church and the Roman-Catholic Church, followed by the Protestant
cults.
The event that has finally marked the history of Christianity and of the
civilized world goes back to the year 313 when, the Emperor Constantine the
Great issued the Edict of Milan and thus proclaimed the freedom of Christians
to choose their desired religion. At the end of his life Constantine himself
converted to Christianity. This was the moment that has determined a long and
complex history of ecclesial architecture; at first the entire process was
carried out according to rigorous norms, but after a while it unleashed and
resulted in more and more surprising forms.
Without judging or giving out verdicts regarding the fairness to respect
the church building norms, we present hereby the main elements that a worship
house was supposed to display. The first Western churches took over the plan
surfaces of the roman basilicas, composed out of a wooden roof ship, underneath
which the believers would gather; one or two lateral ships would outflank the
central ship, being separated by a row of columns. On the westward side there
was the narthex or the entrance intended for the penitents and the unbaptised,
and on the eastward side there was a semicircular or a rectangle apse for
clerics only. Later on, a transept was added to the basilica (sometimes even
two of these), placed perpendicularly on the ship, thus displaying the form of
the Latin cross.
In the case of Orthodox churches, the dominant element was the Greek
cross and the arched roof, with tall vaults. Many of the more recent researches
showed the fact that regardless of the style used to build the churches (roman,
gothic, classic or modern), the most important criteria was preserving and
inspiring substance, church spirit and symbolic elements. The reference point
and the most relevant information on the planimetry and the way in which a
church should look like can be found right in the Holy Scripture (Noah`s arch,
Solomon`s temple or the city of Jerusalem).
The modernization of the rituals within the Roman-catholic Church and the
innovating spirit of the Protestant cults have led to the rise of new
architectural forms that derived from the variations of traditional design, or
are completely detached from these.
Santa Monica Church, Madrid, arch. Vicens & Ramos
This is a vanguard construction covered in steel and with a rusty look
(Corten). This church integrates all the functions into a unique volume: the
worship house, the administrative offices, the class room and the priests`
living area. The form combining straight lines and curved lines together
provides an ultra-modern look, emphasized by the strong volumetric play between
void and fullness, and puts forward the light, dosed in a theater-like manner.
The interior is decorated with sculptures created by contemporary artists. The
intention to unify everything had priority when conceiving the building and the
architect himself called it “an explosion”.
LEGO Chruch, Olanda, arh. LOOS.FM
The large scale Lego constructions were always attractive and impressive
thanks to their posture and complexity. Such a temporarily and unusual building
due to its destination was erected in the city of Enschede, for the Festival of
Grensverk. The church is 20 m tall and was built out of overlaid cement blocks,
inspired by the colored plastic Lego pieces. Just like the pieces, this
uncommon church also displays powerful and vivid colors.
The „Green” Cathedral, Bergamo, author Giuliano Mauri
The trends of ecological architecture were transposed into this
unprecedented project bythe artist Giuliano Mauri who, in 2001, inspired by his
love for nature, designed a cathedral out of trees. Unfortunately, the artist
died unexpectedly in 2009 and, as homage paid to him, the project was
continued, expressing the passing from a man made structure to the fullness of
nature.
The Church of Light, Japan, arch. Tadao Ando
25 km from Osaka, architect Tadao Ando designed a church that expresses
his philosophic approach - the connection between nature and architecture.
This is done by the way in which the light can create new perceptions of space,
together with the concrete structure. The entire building is a metaphor of the
human existence duality – complete/void, darkness/light, tough/calm. The
concrete structure removes any trace of Christian and esthetic traditional motives
and everything is simplified to the symbol of the cross, displayed through the
cut placed on the eastern façade. The weight of the concrete emphasizes the
darkness of the church by suggesting a humble and meditative space. As a proof
of the minimalist architecture, the void that transverses the wall towards the
east is the only religious symbol of the church.
Sarang Church, South Korea, architects Dong gyu Choi, Yoo cheol Choi
The uncommon rectangular form of the site where the Sarang church was
built gracefully combines some traditional elements, despite its ultra-modern
look: the concept of a faith fortress, the ark (Noah`s ark that saved the
world) and the pigeon (the symbol of peace and of the Holy Spirit). All
elements were reunited in a space that can welcome up to 2.000 people.
Church of Knarvik, Norway, arch. Reiulf Ramstad
This beautiful monument integrated in a mountain area is a volume of
sharp edged wood, inspired by the mediaeval architecture. This contemporary
chapel is covered in light-colored pine wood, vibrated by rectangular glass
fascicules that create an interior full of light.
Church of Wilnsdorf, Germany, arch. Schneider& Schumacher
This is a different church, placed in the middle of A5 AutoRoute, it has
a sharp, angular shape that reveals a surprising interior. The countryside
traditional church got a tridimensional look, while the interior reveals a
vivid space thanks to the sophisticated wooden dome. It is made out of 650 components
that are interdependent and allow the natural light to come in gradually.
Kizhi Pogost Church, Russia
This is a superb Russian site included in the UNESCO World Heritage that
contains a trio of buildings ornamented in a spectacular manner. It is an old
17th church, entirely built of wood, without using any nails. Even today, this
monument with 22 towers is one of the highest in the world. Each dome is
composed of hundreds of stratified wooden layers made from pine, spruce and
poplar, shaped as a rhombus and very resilient to the extreme weather
conditions and the long centuries that passed by.
Martin Luther Church, Hainburg, Austria, arh. Coop-Himmelblau
Martin Luther Church in Hainburg is located in the historical center of
the city, within the site of a 17th century worship house and has almost 300
square meters. The modern form of the building derives from an immense table;
the roof is placed on the “feet” of the table – for steel columns. The metal
roof was erected by using naval building techniques and afterwards it was transported
to the place where it was drawn together. Another key element is the ceiling of
the prayer room, a place where the design was inspired by the curved floor form
of a nearby roman ossuary. The game of lights and transparencies has a special
place in this project. The light comes in from the upper side through three
large openings, thus reminding of the Holy Trinity symbol.
The Church transformed into a library, Quebec, Canada, arch. Dan
Hanganu
Romania can also be proud of a remarkable work signed by the famous
Romanian architect Dan Hanganu – the transformation of a formed worship house
into a library. The church was built in 1964 and has a dramatic tower with
lines that extend up to the roof. The open and aired structure was amplified by
some capsulated glass elements, thus creating an elegant church. Originally
designed by Jean-Marie Roy, the Sf. Denys-du-Plateau Church is a strong,
quivering structure with an angular roof that seems to be touching the ground.
The massive church was renovated to host a public library and a community
center, on two floors and at the basement. The structure was completed at each
of its ends with two enameled prolongations, thus expanding the space and
providing harmony with the existing structure.
