Timber iQ October - November 2017 // Issue: 34 | Page 30

PROJECTS
The dome made of cut trees.
Similarly, the external reflective and transparent glazing
material used, is a combination of glass and 12mm clear
Danpalon Multicell panels. In this way, the building seeks to
echo the image of nature and reduce the opacity of the built
mass. On the other hand, the main interior space, the
chapel, reveals an ‘internal mass’ quite different,
unimaginable from the outside, a world apart.
The lightweight Danpal system used as the building’s
envelope, provides a complete weatherproof solution, and
allows for the diffusion of natural light. The importance of
using panels that significantly reduce the potential heat
gain issues associated with a building of this type, cannot
be stressed enough. This ability, to provide thermal and
solar balance, is one of the reasons a Danpalon panel
system was chosen.
One of the principles of the Protestant religion is to fight
against all forms of idolatry prohibiting painting and
sculpture in its places of worship. Similarly by refusing any
sacredness of space, it has sought a form of simplicity.
Yet the sub specie aeternitati (viewed in relation to the
eternal) of Spinoza or Kant's ‘sublime’ in front of the
spectacle of nature, have they not to do with the religiosity
of a place of worship? While remaining within the principles
of Protestantism and in the expression of Christian
symbolism, the project attempts to bring forth emotions
from a liturgical, philosophical, spiritual and artistic
point of view.
28 OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2017 //
THE STRUCTURE OF THE CHAPEL
We find already with John Calvin, the father of Reformed
Christianity – the prescriptions for a circular worship place
that would be close to the spirit of the Early Church and
Reform. If the Catholic Church favoured a cruciform basilica
device, the traces of the churches of the Reform showed a
circular plan. In fact, the circle represents the communion
of the faithful, the equality of men in front of God and the
abolition of hierarchy within the church. Similarly, the circle
symbolises the ‘Universal priesthood’ advocated by
Protestant Reformation figure, Martin Luther that allows all
to celebrate and have a personal encounter with God.
In the centre of the circle there is a cross, the unique
symbol of Christianity. It was designed to be thin, fragile
and precious. Constructed of massive aluminium by tearing
with arc welding, it seems to show both the suffering of the
cross, but through its sheen, the joy of the resurrection. This
cross is planted in the middle of a pool of water, to
approach it one must cross the water. This symbolises both
the crossing of the Red Sea and of the Jordan River by the
people of Israel, but most obviously baptism.
The space of worship is covered with a hemispherical
dome, encased by the clear Multicell Danpalon panels
above. The use of the abundant natural light, subtly
diffused by the translucent panels above, highlights the
dome as a feature. This same focus on a dome, can be found