I have written on this topic at least two or three times since my blog started but I wanted to revisit the topic after being in France for a little while and experiencing European architecture in person for the first time. After having done so, I wanted to add a little bit to my previous arguments by saying that a church building should carry some kind of permanence, some kind of lasting quality.
I think what has struck me most about European church structures is their permanence. They don’t seem to be ephemeral warehouses just “to be” or to gather in but rather buildings and spaces that will hold their value even in a state of ruin. My class and I visited the ruins of the Abbey of Jumieges two weeks ago and the space still has that air of permanence even though it is in a state of disrepair. A church could even go there today and set up some chairs and a podium and hold a service without any trouble even today. When I think about the church buildings from home just 100 years from now, I don’t think that they will last or hold any of their aesthetic value. I cannot see people visiting the new Wheaton Bible Church in the future and thinking, “wow, what an amazing space this must have been.”
I understand that much of this has to do with the cost of materials and new construction techniques that are much easier and faster to implement. I just feel that architects could at least try to achieve some type of unique quality that would make a church building now stand out as a church 500 years from now…to make it a place where people can go and still worship even if it is in ruins. It seems that architects resign to designing buildings that they know will eventually be replaced; is there not some thought put into how significant a church building can be, especially if it lasts through generations?
I think that I will at least entertain the thought of designing churches in the future.
October 07 2008 | Architecture and Building and Church and Culture | No Comments »
I added a few pictures I took on my most recent visit to Wheaton Bible Church. Maybe they aren’t as interesting as the last ones because the building is almost done and we are moving in to the new building in about a week. But anyway, go over the the photos page to check them out.
July 11 2008 | Building and Church and Personal and Photos | No Comments »
Last Sunday I went to the new campus of Wheaton Bible Church because they opened it up for tours and such. It’s not done or anything but they wanted to give the congregation a chance to see how things are coming along. I wanted to see where all of the church’s money has been going for a few years now.
Here are some of the pictures that I took. Some of them are blurry because it was still a little dark and dusty inside.
I have to admit, the new building surprised me. I sort of expected the type of building that I described in my posts on megachurch architecture but that wasn’t what it was at all. Given the exterior is not spectacular but it is definitely interesting and you can actually tell that it is a church unlike Willow Creek.
The whole scale of the projet is unbelievable. I’m still not sure that I am 100% comfortable with the size of Wheaton Bible as a church compared to the amount of community that I see there, however, the new building seems to have taken this into account with plenty of spaces just to be with people. There is a welcome center for visitors along with spaces for adults to hold their community groups. Unlike many megachurches, the new building doesn’t aim to get you in and out.
Another thing that I like about the design is that it seems integrated into the landscape. They decided to leave many of the trees that were there along with planting new ones in the parking area in order to soften it up a bit. There is a a stream on the property and a pond that the administration is hoping to use for outdoor baptisms and ceremonies. I like this because the church isn’t shutting itself off from the area around it but rather welcoming it in a way that many churches can’t or don’t want to do.
The Hispanic congregation will now have it’s own space that Ecclesia will use at night instead of both groups using the gym like it is at our current building. There are also spaces dedicated to prayer and other activities which will be a nice thing to have for different gatherings. The administration also dedicated a large portion of the new building to children, with classrooms and play areas.
I commend the efforts of the church staff and architecture firm for designing and implementing a practical and aesthetically pleasing structure.
March 20 2008 | Architecture and Church and Photos | 6 Comments »