Archinect - News

Ukraine has lost almost 500 churches and religious sites since the start of the Russian invasion

2023-02-25T08:00:00-05:00

As a result of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, at least 494 religious buildings, theological institutions, and sacred places were wholly destroyed, damaged, or looted by the Russian military. The Ukrainian Institute for Religious Freedom presented this updated data on the impact of the war on Ukrainian religious communities on January 31 and February 1 during the Summit on International Religious Freedom (IRF Summit 2023) held in Washington, D.C.

The Institute for Religious Freedom reported Russia’s tactic of using churches for military bases and hiding spots. Clergy members have also been targeted as part of the longer-term goal of destroying the Ukrainian language and culture. (The Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which accounts for 48% of the survey, famously broke away from Moscow in a May 2022 declaration.)

Graphic courtesy Institute for Religious Freedom (source)

Non-Christian sites afflicted include the Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial (which includes a synagogue designed by Manuel Herz) and several mosques. The destruction of holy buildings and other cultural property nevertheless pales in comparison to the waste of life on both sides of the conflict. The latest estimates from the UN human rights office have at least 8,006 civilian deaths in the country over the past twelve months, with the actual death toll of non-combatants likely much higher.

The architecture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

2023-01-23T11:35:00-05:00

Hinckley dedicated 76 of the 103 temples built between 1983 and his death in 2008. For every traffic-stopping standout like the futuristic San Diego Temple...dozens of small temples, built from standardized plans...In the last 15 years...construction has continued apace, with landmark temples in Paris and Rome punctuating a steady stream of standardized temples...PROLIFERATION AND HOMOGENIZATION of temples around the world reflects a cultural shift for the Church that is still being sorted out

At the end of last year, Gregg Allen wrote about the architecture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and how the design of it's meetinghouses, tabernacles and temples have played a key role in shaping LDS identity over the centuries.

OMA’s Audrey Irmas Pavilion nears completion, their first religious building

2021-09-01T16:01:00-04:00

OMA New York have released an update on their Audrey Irmas Pavilion taking shape in Los Angeles, California. The scheme, designed for the Wilshire Boulevard Temple, is OMA’s first cultural building in California, and the first religious institution building in the firm’s portfolio.

Image by Jason O'Rear, courtesy of OMA New York

Having been selected for the scheme’s design in 2015, OMA have progressed construction of the scheme through the COVID-19 pandemic. “The making of the Audrey Irmas Pavilion sustained forward momentum through the COVID-19 Pandemic, a period in which the act of human interaction was questioned and contemplated,” explains Shohei Shigematsu, the OMA Partner in charge of the project. “Its completion comes at a time where we hope to come together again, and this building can be a platform to reinstate the importance of gathering, exchange, and communal spirit.”

Image by Jason O'Rear, courtesy of OMA New York

The 55,000-square-foot pavilion sits adjacent to the cent...

New skyscraper church in Hong Kong seeks to "create a peaceful and solemn" place of worship

2019-10-31T13:57:00-04:00

The Rocco Design Architects-designed tower, which will hold the Wesleyan House Methodist International Church, sits on a teardrop-shaped site in Wan Chai, Hong Kong. With 800 square meters of plot and 11,000 square meters of program, the task proved challenging for the design team. The resulting solution manifests itself as a vertical church that integrates the sanctuary, chapels, activity halls, social service floors, and pastoral offices into the tower.

A pragmatic consideration was implemented in the adjacencies of the program. A large congregation hall sits above the main sanctuary, inviting worshippers to gather after the service. Offices and pastoral residences are situated on adjacent floors, providing a seamless connection for its residents, while still seeking to retain distinct identities.

The exterior language of the structure flexes a subtly curved facade with a solid core east facing wall sporting casement windows as opposed to a curtain wall. A sustainable effort inte...

Fire quickly put out in Jerusalem's treasured Al-Aqsa Mosque, no damage reported

2019-04-16T16:31:00-04:00

Footage showing smoke and fire emerging from the roof of a structure known as the Marwani Prayer Room, or Solomon's Stables...The Palestine News Agency, the official outlet of the Palestinian National Authority, cited a guard as saying Monday that "the fire broke out in the guard's room outside the roof of the Marwani Prayer Room, and the fire brigade of the Islamic Waqf handled the matter successfully." No injuries or damage was reported during the short blaze.

On the same day that a harrowing fire damaged the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, some nerves were rattled at the fire that broke out yesterday in the Marwani Prayer Room in Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam. The fire is said to have occurred above the prayer hall in an open area.

No interior damage or injuries have been reported after the fire was quickly put out. According to Sheikh Azzam al-Khatib, director general of the Jerusalem Waqf and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, the fire broke out in the courtyard and may have been caused by children.

The cultural and historic impact of Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral

2019-04-15T16:46:00-04:00

In light of the recent Notre Dame Cathedral fire, many have posted photos and stories remembering the historic landmark across social media. As news of the fire's progression airs around the world, we can not help but stay optimistic for the cathedral's recovery. Although the public eye may be focused on the structure's current state, let us take a moment to recall the historical and cultural importance of this famed Parisian landmark.

Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, view from the River Seine. Image © Carol Blyberg (flickr acct: smilla4)

Notre Dame Cathedral - cross section. Image courtesy of pitt.edu

Considered one of the most notable structures in Paris, the 850-year old building is located in the center of the River Seine on a small island called Ile de la Cite. The name Notre-Dame de Paris, which translates to "Our Lady of Paris," began its construction in 1163 and took nearly 200 years to complete. It is recorded that the cathedral's completion took place during the reign of Kin...

Exploring the spiritual architecture of Swiss architect Mario Botta

2019-03-29T20:00:00-04:00

The spiritual architecture of Swiss architect Mario Botta is the subject of an exhibition at the Ringturm Exhibition Centre in Vienna. Building studies, drawings, and photography are brought side by side to reach an understanding of how Botta conceptualizes and designs religious experiences through the built environment.

Religious places of worship often prompt a sense of reverence and deep reflection. For some these sacred buildings provide peace, and for others perhaps a bit of anxiety. Nonetheless, Swiss architect Mario Botta has designed and completed 22 religious buildings during his 50-year career as an architect. His first religious architectural project was a chapel at the Bigorio Capuchin monastery in 1966. Since then, Botta's spiritual spaces of worship have made a broad reach internationally, especially in Europe. Currently, three new religious buildings are under construction in China and Seoul.

Church San Giovanni Battista in Mogno, Switzerland. Image © Enrico Cano

Chapel Santa Maria Degli Angeli in Mount Tamaro, Switzerland. Image © Mario Botta Architetti

Kirche Papst Johannes XXIII designed by Mario Botta. Image © Enrico Cano

Throughout his career, Botta has designed synagogues, Catholic churches, and mosques. With this spectrum of open creative application Botta designs each building ...

Museum of the Bible is DC's latest spectacle

2017-12-01T19:44:00-05:00

The Museum of the Bible recently opened in Washington, D.C. packed with screens and interactive exhibits. The 430,000-square-foot building was designed by SmithGroup JJR and cost a total of $500 million. Formerly a refrigerated warehouse, this space has been turned into quite an extravaganza. The museum, hailed by some as a religious indoor amusement park, boasts 12 different movie theaters, one 140-foot-long LED screen, and several immersive exhibits simulating historic, biblical environments.

Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. Photo: Alan Karchmer.

Visitors will also experience Morgan Freeman's voice reading scripture, a computer animated film recounting the New Testament, and the parting of the Red Sea via a walkthrough light installation (pictured above). While this space is branded for social media, the museum also houses some quieter galleries focused on the Bible’s influence on the United States.

The World of Jesus of Nazareth in the Museum of the Bible. Photo: Alan Ka...

The "Lunatic Builder" who spent 50 years (and counting) building a cathedral

2015-06-30T14:25:00-04:00

There were never any construction plans or official permission. Everything is in my head. I am not an architect or a stonemason. I have never had any training in the building profession. My basic education was interrupted by the Civil War. I was inspired by books about cathedrals, castles and other religious buildings and they gave birth to my own work...—Don Justo Gallego Martínez

Born into humble means in the Spanish town of Mejorada del Campo in 1925 and having worked as a farmer and a bullfighter, Don Justo Gallego Martínez lived in a Trappist monastery for eight years until he was forced to leave when he contracted tuberculosis. Don Justo, who never had any training as an architect or a builder, was "left with [nothing but] the strong conviction that God wanted him to build a temple." And so he did. The year was 1963 when Don Justo first laid the foundation of the Cathedral in Mejorada that he continues to build today.

Perceived by neighbors as "The Lunatic Builder" because he was building without any authorized permission, Don Justo remained steadfast in his spiritual mission — with the help of public donations and technical advice — to keep working on his temple until "the end of [his] days".

Sounds like a movie, right?

Well, director James Rogan created a short documentary in 2010 based on Don Justo's ongoing story called "The Madman and the Cathedral". Y...

Great Synagogue of Edirne in Turkey, Europe's third largest synagogue, reopens after five-year restoration

2015-03-26T19:39:00-04:00

Top Turkish government officials, nearly 100 international dignitaries, and 500 members of the Turkish Jewish community took part in a ceremony commemorating the re-opening of the Great Synagogue of Edirne today after a five-year restoration. The synagogue is claimed to be the largest synagogue in the Balkans and the third largest in Europe.

The $2.5 million government investment repaired the synagogue's lead-clad domes, its collapsed roof and walls, and its foundation was fortified. Inside, the floor covering was restored to its original patterns and colors, as well as the Torah inscriptions. Turkey’s Prime Ministry General Directorate of Foundations oversaw the restoration.

The Great Synagogue of Edirne - after and before restoration.

The push to rebuild the Great Synagogue began in 2010, as part of an effort to mitigate restrictions on Turkey's non-Muslim religious minorities. Authorities describe the Great Synagogue's reopening as a symbol of tolerance towards Turkey's Jewish commu...

A glimpse on the changing state of religious architecture in the latest Faith&Form/IFRAA Awards

2015-01-05T20:26:00-05:00

Religious architecture is a typology where the traditional and the contemporary can easily clash, but it is possible to create harmony between the two, as seen in the Faith & Form/IFRAA Awards. The annual awards program not only showcases a glimpse of the wide range of religious architecture around the globe, it also poses the question of how architects can rethink a sacred congregational space that is suitable for the evolving state of present-day religious practice.

According to Faith & Form editor-in-chief Michael J. Crosbie, the jury of the latest edition of the Awards -- Terry Byrd Eason (liturgical designer, jury chair); Michael Berkowicz (artist); Craig Rafferty (architect); Doug Johnston (architect); and Rev. Robb Webb (clergy) -- were most impressed with the diversity of architectural styles and overall sophistication of the 134 submissions, regardless if they were small or large, modest or opulent.

Compared to 19 winners last year, a total of 32 projects were awarded this t...

2013 Faith & Form/IFRAA Awards winners revive and modernize religious architecture and art

2014-01-09T18:37:00-05:00

The winners of the international 2013 Faith & Form/IFRAA Awards Program restored and remodeled religious spaces that can indeed be deemed worthy of praise. Founded in 1978 and co-sponsored by Faith & Form Magazine and the Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art and Architecture (IFRAA), the annual awards program recognizes the best in architecture, liturgical design, and art for religious spaces.

Here's a selection of the winning submissions:

Find more winning submissions and other competition details on Bustler.

Images courtesy of 2013 Faith & Form/IFRAA Awards Program.

Romania's church-building boom

2013-08-07T13:54:00-04:00

Romania's Minister of Religious Affairs, Victor Opaschi, concedes that there is a close working relationship between the church and politicians during electoral campaigns, and that this is "not a good thing".

Tessa Dunlop reports in from Romania where the Orthodox Church is in the midst of a growth spurt with as many as 10 new places of worship being completed every month, and the enormous Cathedral for the People's Salvation is slowly taking shape. However, Romanians have begun to question the use of public funds for such purposes, especially in one of the poorest countries in the EU.

Brooks + Scarpa with KZF Design Studio release proposal for the new Interfaith Chapel at the University of North Florida

2013-01-18T18:58:00-05:00

Brooks + Scarpa and KZF Design Studio have released their proposal for the new Interfaith Chapel at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, FL

The proposed 7000 square foot Interfaith Chapel is designed to be a special place where students and others can slow down their lives, re-focus on their spiritual needs and reflect. At the same time, the Chapel will support a variety of diverse religious services, student ceremonies, weddings, other intimate events, lectures, meditative practices and musical performances.

The informal shape of the building footprint symbolizes an allegorical figure, such as Justice, Faith, Hope, Charity, Prudence and Fortitude. The buildings form draws upon references of flowing formal gowns used in weddings and other ceremonial rituals. The top of the building culminates with a large skylight that is shaded by a wooden lattice spire whose form is derived from the symbol of infinity. This combination of flowing natural and cosmic element...

Are US Muslims abandoning domes and minarets out of fear?

2012-02-02T11:05:00-05:00

"You can have a grand dome and grand minaret, but if it doesn't really serve the purpose, if it only has a large prayer space and nothing else, then you're not really fulfilling the needs of the community," he says.

In post 9/11 America the construction of new mosques in the US has sometimes sparked controversy and even confrontation. Is that why some new Muslim houses of worship are being built without the most recognisable features of Islamic architecture - minarets and domes?

Competition launched to decorate Moscow churches

2011-12-15T11:55:25-05:00

“These churches must become not only a decoration of our city, but truly a phenomenon of civic and church art of our 21st century,” said Archimandrite Tikhon Shevkunov, the executive secretary of the Patriarchal Council for Culture, at a news conference. “They must become a kind of pearl of ancient tradition, uniting historic Moscow with its new districts and buildings.” He said the terms of the competition would be announced by the end of the year.

Crystal Cathedral congregants ‘devastated’ by church sale

2011-11-21T13:19:55-05:00

Some congregants at Crystal Cathedral said they felt blindsided by the church board after it threw its weight behind a bid from the Catholic Church –- an offer that effectively boots them from their landmark site in Garden Grove. The ruling by U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Robert Kwan to allow the sale of Crystal Cathedral to the Diocese of Orange was met with tears.

Philip Johnson's iconic church gets purchased by the Catholic church.

Moore Ruble Yudell: Episcopal Church of Pacific Palisades

2011-01-12T12:51:00-05:00

Charles W. Moore is indeed one of the pivotal architect and the author of the now notorious and often inadequately understood (and naively dismissed on formal grounds) Po Mo period of 70's and 80's.

In early eighties, Moore's collaborative, still known and functioning to date as Moore Ruble Yudell, has produced a breath taking masterpiece in a Los Angeles suburb Pacific Palisades. The Parish of Saint Matthew or commonly known as Episcopal Church of Pacific Palisades was a product of architects' close collaboration with the community in the design stage and results were a perfect blend of architects' talent and community's approval.
As the recently graduated young architect, I remember my visit to the church when it was first opened in 1983 or thereabouts.
After nearly thirty years, I was again there last Sunday morning to pay my respect to a deceased friend of a friend and while I was there, I said hello to Mr. Moore who died in 1993.
I delightfully observed how well building...