PROJECTS
The main hall was designed using principles of Protestantism . Images courtesy of shinslab
Matching simplicity and functionality to religion
A chapel , located 30km from Seoul , South Korea , on SeolGok Road on the south side of the Bori Mountain , in Gapyong is literally providing light and life to its congregation .
By Dayne Scrowther , Danpal ’ s architectural consultant - South Africa
The ‘ Light of Life ’ chapel is built in the middle of a village project for retired missionaries initiated by the Protestant and Presbyterian community Nam Seoul Grace Church . Beyond the reception of Sunday services , it ’ s a place of contemplation and prayer open every day of the week .
The chapel can host 100 people for a religious retreat with the availability of rooms and the offer of meals in a restaurant and café .
The project began in 2008 with a donation to the church to Pastor Hong Jung-Gil . The donation comprised a large quantity of Siberian red cedar wood contributed by an entrepreneur working between Korea and Russia .
MATCHING THE CHAPEL TO THE COMMUNITY
To reduce the impact as much as possible to a building on this very mountainous and forested site , the project attempts to melt into the landscape . The ground floor area of 1 500m 2 has been established on the flattest part of the plot , and faces south , and therefore takes advantage of the orientation for a more open view of the surroundings .
26 OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2017 //