Portfolio: sacred spaces

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Perspectives by LMD

The Good Shepherd chapel

This chapel (yet to be built) will serve an existing Catholic retreat centre. It is an African building situated on a mountainside, and enjoys a view of a large inland dam. The chapel's thatch roof converses with the surrounding veldt (grassland) while coarse red brick and rock walls are in harmony with adjacent natural rock outcrops. Its materials also match that of existing nearby chalets. The building's facades are consciously understated but, by contrast, certain elements of the exterior are plastered and painted in vibrant earth colours so as to add a dash of visual spice.

This design is primarily about moving through and experiencing a succession of spaces; a linear journey on a central axis (a pedestrian ramp) culminating in the chapel's interior space where the altar for celebrating mass is the focal point.

The journey starts on approaching the triple storey freestanding spire with its central cross while walking up a gentle slope. The circular spire contains a bench for contemplation or catching one's breath. From here the ramp leads one up the hill through an olive grove to the building itself. On arrival you are greeted by the "Calvary", a group of crucifixion statues carved from wood. From there one needs to circle the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and then you arrive in a central covered area, still open to the immediate natural landscape. Now one may enter either the smaller Blessed Sacrament chapel, a meditation space, or alternatively the much larger chapel proper. The entrance to the chapel has two sensuously curved walls inviting you to enter through the double front door. These two doors are topped by a large window and all of this is framed by a magnificent plastered and brightly painted surround, a deep niche, creating an imposing entrance that is approximately three storeys high.

Once through the double doors and in the chapel one enters a space that is not quite rectangular. This is because the longitudinal walls to both the left and right are not parallel but almost converge towards the back of the chapel. This tapering of the space to a narrow point accentuates the splendid central arch over the altar. This arch is some two storeys high. Simultaneously, as these two longitudinal walls move closer to each other, they also increase in height from less than a single storey to more than two storeys (i.e. from the double doors towards the arch). Visually this creates the illusion of a space that is much deeper and higher than it actually is. This dynamic spatial tension is in strong contrast with the tranquil atmosphere, which is the result of the diffused lighting quality created by the "window boxes" within the chapel.

Click on this image for a slide show of the construction of the chapel. (Animated GIF, 215 KB)

Above contrast exemplifies the fine balance that the interior achieves where it is soothing yet not dull. A visitor could be completely relaxed yet alert and fully present in the moment. This atmosphere of calm is further emphasized by the solid wood floor with a warm grey appearance as well as muted warm greys for all interior painted plasterwork. Visual interest is created again by the contrast between the smooth plaster finish of the window boxes as opposed to the rough plaster finish of the main wall. This contrast is further enhanced by a subtle difference in colour where the window boxes are somewhat darker than the main walls. The wall within which the double front doors are set is partially cladded in wood strips that match the floor, adding a richness of texture that compliments that of the thatch roof.

Window boxes: a series of windows on each of the two longitudinal walls steps up with each wall as the wall rises in height towards the back of the chapel. These windows are hidden by brickwork screens supported on columns forming a second brick wall (punctuated by niches) right next to the main wall itself. Each window box emits a vertical shaft of soft diffused light within its own niche directed towards the floor. Up-lighters on top of the window boxes illuminate the thatch roof from below. Right to the back of the chapel, beyond the arch, a single central vertical window with opaque glass draws the eye yet again to the altar.

Additional PDF files

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1. Site plan (121 KB)
2. Ground floor & roof 2 plans (123 KB)
3. Section & elevations (442 KB)

Zen landscaping

At a Buddhist meditation retreat, a flagstone footpath leads to a stone bench topped by a pebble arrangement.