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 //