I believe with every fiber of my being that God turned the eyes of the world on Crystal Cathedral because God wants to make a big bold statement, he wants the world to know that he is a God who still does miracles — Reuters
Philip Johnson's masterpiece, the Crystal Cathedral is the subject of bidding wars between Chapman University, Roman Catholic Archdiocese and the retailer Hobby Lobby. Sheila Schuller Coleman, director of ministry at the church and the daughter of Schuller also thinks they can raise the money and keep the church if they can raise $50 million. The Garden Grove campus also includes buildings by Richard Neutra and Richard Meier.
The Crystal Cathedral was parodied in the Simpsons episode "Natural Born Kissers" (towards the end)
4 Comments
Good riddance bastion of archaic superstition.
There is a growing collection of ex-religious architecture adapting new programs. I would love to see this building follow through on a similar path.
While i am a case by case proponent of adoptive reuse, I would hate to see Johnson's cathedral be used anything other than its intended assembly use, as an Evangelical American Cathedral which started in the principals of drive-in faith.
I would like to see a different act than Schuller's. I respect it is all his vision and design input, but I think he is effectively retired, scandalized and ran his course. He was one of the most entertaining and fascinating examples, there is new talent and scarier material. I mean, it could be a rental venue for all that nut job tv evangelists, it could make money... It is the height of faith related architecture and mass self help motivational therapy generation. It is reflected that all the bidders want to use for that typology. In short, I hope it dose not become a skating ring or something.
Neutra tower is a definite save too.
I won't say the same thing for Meier's building at the Campus. That one, as far as I am concerned, could be demoed to make room for more parking..
Here is a golden nugget from Philip Johnson:
"Criticised at the time of opening for offering a view of parked cars, Johnson perfunctorily replied that as people live in their cars all day long why should they be ashamed of them, and queried, 'is God not in the car?' "
— Dennis Sharp. Twentieth Century Architecture: a Visual History. p365.
god that is a beautiful image Orhan.... Chaotic, but beautiful.
Nam, Philip Johnson was very good but often undervalued naively.
Block this user
Are you sure you want to block this user and hide all related comments throughout the site?
Archinect
This is your first comment on Archinect. Your comment will be visible once approved.