Humility - Through my research of Architectural Evangelism I narrowed my project into three words that could further my exploration in how I will design the inn to reinforce a bond that is reminiscent of what is ideally in the church. Those words are humility, relationship, and journey. Architectural humility has no hidden mechanics, no theatrics, and everything is transparent. Its relationship to its surrounding community through its relationship to its surrounding buildings is important to convey. Humility is something that is not too overbearing, or too inhospitable. And through my findings making the space a very demure inn was very important to represent the ideas of Christ. Out of context building can evoke arrogance, and no concern for its surroundings.

In Presentation Zen by John McWade it is written that what graphically makes a space humble is creating a style where everything works together. Humble design is considered minimal, has a sense of airiness and is created with “fewer elements, fewer decisions” and business in varying stroke width. Although all those things are generally agreed upon, in Architecture of Humility by Thomas Patrick Breen he says that even though a space is humble it needs “holding power, a hook, and a focal point”, and “a lot of quiet white space with a lot of power in that white space”. A great example of this is Paley Park – a pocket park located in Midtown Manhattan. It provides a hospitable respite from the otherwise concrete jungle. It is “an intimate relationship with the street”. The park is an extension of its midtown surroundings while simultaneously removing you city’s hustle and bustle. It is related to what McWade says of it having few elements but at the same time having that holding power that is needed in a space that defines architectural humility. Pocket parks are generally small scale urban open spaces scattered throughout urban cities, serving the immediate local population. These small patches do not exhibit magnificence in size but in its function; it is a very wholesome approach.

Humble architecture considers its long-term impact, is socially responsible, and is understanding of its people. It is in collaboration with its environment and explores safety, and inclusion. It is honest of time, place, and form. “It is an architecture of the senses that serves people”. The obsession with bigness ignores the needs of the population that are visiting, and those who inhabit the area.

Humility - Humility as I already expressed is an understanding of its people and its context. So I created a series of diagrams that could express what I have learned and its relation to my biblical understanding. In Matthew 5:5 it says “blessed are the gentle for they shall inherit the earth.” Gentle could also be translated to meek, mild, patient, long-suffering, gentle, and those who claim nothing. All words that encompass the theme of being humble.

Journey - I furthered my study on this word by considering the relationships to the pedestrian environment and its entry and exit through the space. How it welcomes the pedestrian and addresses the street. I had to consider the accessibility of the building and how welcoming the street presence had to be. I created a diagram to use what I studied on these notions of entry and exit. Different ways to enter and leave a space so that its scheme can reconcile sacramental journey and auditory intimacy. The narrow enclosures also provide the opportunity to communicate the sense of journey, enforced by a transparent wall or an oddly scaled hallway. I considered how a building can hold the street edge while at the same time subtly show something in the background such as an outdoor courtyard and or sanctuary.

Relationship - The intention behind the idea of relationship is intended to facilitate the love of Christ through people but of course aided through architectural intervention. Eliade, a Romanian historian of religion who wrote The Sacred and the Profane. In his writing is says that “holy sites and sanctuaries are believed to be situated at the center” and a “place is made by the circle of people… for the time of the service a center is created”. Eliade states that the centralization of people responds to the presence of divine power within some spaces. He also says that ‘‘every sacred space implies a hierophany’’ or an ‘‘irruption of the sacred". Places are believed to be sacred because a godlike or supernatural influence dwells in them. Holy areas position people and groups ‘‘vertically,’’ creating a spatial connection between the heavenly and what is evil. They also orient groups ‘‘horizontally,’’ which splits the landscape into a dichotomy of sacred area and profane fringes, creating a hierarchy of meaning onto the earth. The presence of the divine, the axis mundi, or world center, programs spiritual meanings that provides a background for all other spaces and knowledge. So, through Eliade’s critique on the central axis I explored how to create spaces that help in aiding a center of people.

I created spatial diagrams to observe the notion of different units making a whole. And how a space can aid in bringing people together. The 3 dimensional diagram is supposed to represent the sacred being in the center of our lives and a sense of infinite communication. A diagram that represents that one is not alone through the playful strokes on variations deviating from the central axis. It is more of a play on volume and proportion and a creation of multiple spaces that are centered together to make one volume. The idea of many units being a part of one whole.

To conclude, these three words became stepping stones in being able to go deeper into my research and how I will develop the design of the inn moving forward.

Site Location - Fontana Dam, NC

A lot of people do the Appalachian Trail intending to create a better version of themselves. They long to discover more about this world and answer questions surround what is outside of their own strength. I chose Fontana Dam because it symbolized the intentions of what I wanted to come across in my final project perfectly. It was far enough from the start of the trail for hikers to be exhausted and consider staying for a night. But also close enough to the start of the trail for people to still long for fulfillment in their journey and still be interested in hearing the gospel of Christ. Hopefully staying at this location will be an experience that is realizing it enough for what is ahead of them. You begin to rely a lot and are able to conquer a lot when you get to know Him without even realizing it.

The model formally communicated a language of an implied rectangular prism through the use of folding planes. A center section is also lifted up to call attention to the central focus and an end wall folded in to emphasize the longitudinal planes. Natural light is let in fitting to the character and content of each arrangement. There is a diffused north light that touches upon areas of gathering and dining. And then there is a piece that attracts dramatic rays of the south light streaming over the back wall for an attempt to symbolize the visualization of a sacred interaction.

I feel that I accomplished how the contextual walls relate to the strategy of ethical communication in design. The direct relationship to the pedestrian realm gives access to the community of hikers at the same time not being too in your face. I feel like programmatically I successfully accomplished a great consideration to its importance to the site. The architectonic feeling of the design conveys a sense of modesty through its simplicity in material and program, the exposure of the natural environment, and the humility of how much a person can see the entirety of this building from any point. There is a tangible sense of the importance of immediate context of the sites, but very little recognition of that importance by the surrounding environment. The building for this thesis recognized and contributed to that sense of importance to the presence of the site.

I figured there had to be a Christian staff for this to be possible. So there would be space for staff to reside and greet people. I would want people to get a glimpse of the kindness of Jesus through the welcoming of those who work there. Hopefully the gospel is made to talk about freely and liberally. But at the same time people have the option to just enjoy other’s company if they choose to. An un-chapel of sorts.