AWARDS RELIGIOUS ARCHITECTURE / NEW FACILITIES
Jiao-xi Presbyterian Church Yilan County , Taiwan
Ambi . Studio / Wei-Li Liao , Architect Taichung City , Taiwan
The design strategy for Jiao-xi Presbyterian redefined the church as a vehicle to experience spirituality in everyday lives . The brick boxes at the four corners of the plaza are designed as multi-functional spaces for the community , and the main structure supports the elevated hall . Underneath the hall are multiple open spaces and corridors acting as urban streets and alleys connecting to surrounding areas , pathways , and greenbelts . It encourages various community activities and social interactions for residents and church members in any weather condition . Religious space accommodates daily lives and public encounters at the urban scale . By contrast , the main hall ’ s lifted volume on the second floor is designed as a double-layered structure . The egg-like nave is made with glued laminated timber to introduce natural light from the continuous waffle skin . It recalls the transcending experiences of worshiping and praying in a forest or wildland .
Jury Comments Jiao-xi Presbyterian Church displays an incredible range of scale , materials , and use of space . The church blends well with its urban context . The use of natural light in the structure leads to the church ’ s religious feeling .
Fu-Ming Lin Photography
Sacred Heart Chapel and Parish Hall Coronado , California
dommusstudio architecture San Diego , California
The sanctuary of Sacred Heart Chapel and Parish Hall , designed by architect Irving Gill , was dedicated in 1920 . This new design improves the rest of the campus facilities while respecting the historic church . The project added a new parish hall , chapel , and renovated parish offices , all fronting onto an arcade-wrapped central courtyard on a very tight site . It was paramount that the fabric of the historic church be preserved , and the new facilities took cues from its color , materials , and subtle ornamentation . Moreover , the improvements maintained the visual hierarchy of Gill ’ s church . The courtyard is purposefully clean , simple , and unadorned to respect its context . It embraces the southern California climate and serves as an unencumbered outdoor gathering space that families often enjoy during outdoor worship experiences .
Jury Comments The power of Sacred Heart Chapel and Parish Hall ’ s design is how the church creates a “ place ” on this site . The new chapel ’ s planning and the parish hall work in unison with the existing historic church to identify this Roman Catholic community ’ s heart . The design is subtle and fits well with its California landscape .
Brady Architectural Photography
SACRED PLACES • SUMMER 2021 17