Architecture for Us - Stories - What Problem Does Church Architecture Solve?
Continues from The Chinese Restaurant
Before exploring the specifics of Old South Church in Boston, I would like to consider why we would even build such a place. What is the problem that the architecture solves? Put another way and borrowing from the great Louis Kahn, what does a church want to be?
We could ask the same question about Synagogues, Mosques, Temples and other such buildings. Why do we build these places?
Of course the answers will vary over time, place and community. Those unfamiliar with the typology may be surprised at the variety of activities that occur in these buildings. Just a partial list of activities includes;
I’ve known people whose primary reason for associating with a religious/spiritual organization is for its reliable day care facilities. I’ve known others who love music and value the opportunity to either listen or to participate. The path for some is through a support group such as AA. Some of these buildings serve as community centers and host a wide range of events that support the broader region in which they are located. In many ways these buildings are long-standings mixed-use projects that speak to a wide range of interests and communities. The person who is eager to participate in a theater group may never even know about the day care facilities, and vice versa.
For this series of architectural stories I want to delimit our task to a consideration of the sanctuary. What is the problem that a sanctuary solves? Once again, the answers to this will vary over time, place and community. Still, as I consider the many religious/spiritual “sanctuaries” I have visited, certain things stand out. Some people come to the sanctuary to socialize. It’s a great opportunity to meet and greet friends who have this shared interest. It’s easy to recognize these people as they are often the ones who are quietly chatting with one another during the service. Some people attend for the music. They enjoy listening to the music being performed and they love to join in singing. What great people to sit near. Still other people come in hopes of finding solace in their lives. While they may not be eager to socialize, they are definitely in search of an elusive something. In times of national or regional tragedy a sanctuary can fill with these people.
In the end, however, I feel that whatever else a sanctuary might do, it is essential that it promote an awareness of our deepest self and our relationship with the divine. This is the problem that must be solved.
Wow. This is difficult to define, much less achieve. Still, if we do not solve this problem the sanctuary will almost certainly fail.
Going back to my previous entry in the series, this is the “food” mentioned in the Chinese restaurant. Sure, we can hang our paper lanterns (in this case some religious icons), we can play the right music (maybe it’s chants, maybe it’s gospel). We can hang some artwork featuring dragons (for a church it might be Biblical scenes). We can get all of the ornament right but still fail on the food - the essential.
Picture yourself…
…wanting to move beyond your narrative self to find a deeper connection with your innermost and truer self. This is easier said than done. Maybe you’ve done a little reading on the topic. Perhaps you’ve signed up for some online courses. You’ve spoken with friends who share your interest. But something is lacking. To build on what you already feel, or more critically to escape what you believe you know, you most certainly need help.
Early spring and you’ve heard that there is a small community that gathers in a quiet forested area nearby. You decide to give it a try. You arrive and are immediately struck by nature’s beauty. Everything is in bloom. The air is crisp and clean. The sky is blue. Beneath a canopy of trees people have spread blankets and the sounds of a nearby creek gently fill the air. Some of the attendees are chatting with one another while others are engaged in meditation or centering prayer. Icons appropriate to the service have been placed among the trees and a small group of attendees stand and sing an opening tune. From the front a tall women stands and begins to address the group. Her “reflection” for the day draws on current events, grounding them solidly in eternal spirit. As the service ends you stand, realizing that something almost imperceptible has moved you. Perhaps you’ve had a small taste of the divine.
You become a regular at this incredible service and look forward to it. Unless it rains. Uh oh. The organizers have tried putting up tarps for protection, but the wind always seems too much. Still, you keep coming. As fall arrives and the air turns crisp the popularity of this service has grown. Now when you arrive there isn’t enough space to spread your blanket. It’s gotten hard to hear the women speak. And it’s getting colder every day. Soon the first snows of winter will arrive.
Built form is needed if this burgeoning community is to survive. But you worry, everything that was happening in the small clearing was perfect. What if a building messes up what was occurring naturally? Keep in mind, whatever else a sanctuary might do, it is essential that it promote an awareness of our deepest self and our relationship with the divine.
As this series continues I’m going to show just how the sanctuary at Old South Church addresses this challenge. What is it that makes this building great and an exemplary piece of Architecture for Us…
Continues in March...
Continues from The Chinese Restaurant
Before exploring the specifics of Old South Church in Boston, I would like to consider why we would even build such a place. What is the problem that the architecture solves? Put another way and borrowing from the great Louis Kahn, what does a church want to be?
We could ask the same question about Synagogues, Mosques, Temples and other such buildings. Why do we build these places?
Of course the answers will vary over time, place and community. Those unfamiliar with the typology may be surprised at the variety of activities that occur in these buildings. Just a partial list of activities includes;
- Community center,
- Day care,
- Senior center,
- Theater venue,
- Music venue,
- Community kitchen,
- Education (all levels),
- Dating,
- Counseling,
- Meeting place for various support groups,
- A place of business,
- Socializing,
- And of course, a sanctuary.
I’ve known people whose primary reason for associating with a religious/spiritual organization is for its reliable day care facilities. I’ve known others who love music and value the opportunity to either listen or to participate. The path for some is through a support group such as AA. Some of these buildings serve as community centers and host a wide range of events that support the broader region in which they are located. In many ways these buildings are long-standings mixed-use projects that speak to a wide range of interests and communities. The person who is eager to participate in a theater group may never even know about the day care facilities, and vice versa.
For this series of architectural stories I want to delimit our task to a consideration of the sanctuary. What is the problem that a sanctuary solves? Once again, the answers to this will vary over time, place and community. Still, as I consider the many religious/spiritual “sanctuaries” I have visited, certain things stand out. Some people come to the sanctuary to socialize. It’s a great opportunity to meet and greet friends who have this shared interest. It’s easy to recognize these people as they are often the ones who are quietly chatting with one another during the service. Some people attend for the music. They enjoy listening to the music being performed and they love to join in singing. What great people to sit near. Still other people come in hopes of finding solace in their lives. While they may not be eager to socialize, they are definitely in search of an elusive something. In times of national or regional tragedy a sanctuary can fill with these people.
In the end, however, I feel that whatever else a sanctuary might do, it is essential that it promote an awareness of our deepest self and our relationship with the divine. This is the problem that must be solved.
Wow. This is difficult to define, much less achieve. Still, if we do not solve this problem the sanctuary will almost certainly fail.
Going back to my previous entry in the series, this is the “food” mentioned in the Chinese restaurant. Sure, we can hang our paper lanterns (in this case some religious icons), we can play the right music (maybe it’s chants, maybe it’s gospel). We can hang some artwork featuring dragons (for a church it might be Biblical scenes). We can get all of the ornament right but still fail on the food - the essential.
Picture yourself…
…wanting to move beyond your narrative self to find a deeper connection with your innermost and truer self. This is easier said than done. Maybe you’ve done a little reading on the topic. Perhaps you’ve signed up for some online courses. You’ve spoken with friends who share your interest. But something is lacking. To build on what you already feel, or more critically to escape what you believe you know, you most certainly need help.
Early spring and you’ve heard that there is a small community that gathers in a quiet forested area nearby. You decide to give it a try. You arrive and are immediately struck by nature’s beauty. Everything is in bloom. The air is crisp and clean. The sky is blue. Beneath a canopy of trees people have spread blankets and the sounds of a nearby creek gently fill the air. Some of the attendees are chatting with one another while others are engaged in meditation or centering prayer. Icons appropriate to the service have been placed among the trees and a small group of attendees stand and sing an opening tune. From the front a tall women stands and begins to address the group. Her “reflection” for the day draws on current events, grounding them solidly in eternal spirit. As the service ends you stand, realizing that something almost imperceptible has moved you. Perhaps you’ve had a small taste of the divine.
You become a regular at this incredible service and look forward to it. Unless it rains. Uh oh. The organizers have tried putting up tarps for protection, but the wind always seems too much. Still, you keep coming. As fall arrives and the air turns crisp the popularity of this service has grown. Now when you arrive there isn’t enough space to spread your blanket. It’s gotten hard to hear the women speak. And it’s getting colder every day. Soon the first snows of winter will arrive.
Built form is needed if this burgeoning community is to survive. But you worry, everything that was happening in the small clearing was perfect. What if a building messes up what was occurring naturally? Keep in mind, whatever else a sanctuary might do, it is essential that it promote an awareness of our deepest self and our relationship with the divine.
As this series continues I’m going to show just how the sanctuary at Old South Church addresses this challenge. What is it that makes this building great and an exemplary piece of Architecture for Us…
Continues in March...