Re : Dematerialization

The trip was quite a mess. But the fun in between are priceless.

And seeing this wonder with my own eyes. I say the bomb, what say you?

Church of St Mary of the Angels,
Bukit Batok, Singapore.

"Central to the design was the idea of building a community. A diagram was developed where the existing buildings and new buildings would all connect to a central community space that would form the heart of the complex. The other sub-committees all relate to this central space, creating activity and visibility for all the various parts. The flipping of the focus from outward-looking to inward-looking was also a strategy that reflected the changing site character from a hilltop to a “valley” created by the surrounding high-rise developments. The hilly site created various levels within the development that were linked by covered walkways and ramped outdoor spaces, creating many opportunities for processions and celebrations.

The design was also inspired by the forms of the Franciscan Friar’s head church St Francis of Assisi in Italy, where a large lawn, colonnades and ramped entrances flow out from the main cathedral. Another aspect of the church, its connection to nature and the outside, was suggested by the life of St. Francis, who spread his message out in the community rather than inside the confines of the churches."

"The architectural expression was developed as a robust set of 3 architectural languages that would link the old and the new, and were appropriate to the climate and the budget. One set of architectural expression was developed for the link way, as a rhythmic open sided concrete colonnade. A second expression was developed from the existing cellular Friary building, of regular white cubic forms with perforated aluminium sun screening and overhangs. This was applied to all the building elements with regular, cellular accommodation. A third expression of looser, linking forms was developed as planar, rough-textured brown walls that fold and intersect, inspired by the brown rough fabric of the Franciscan robes. Together these three expressions allowed a rich variety of responses to the complex requirements of the various components, the hilly site and the existing buildings"

Information source : Church of St.Mary of the Angels Official Website

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You know, how strange the feeling is, when I was sitting in the library, flipping architecture books, checking out those Modern Churches designed by famous archies like Tadao Ando or Steven Holls, when the design of the Churches, or Chapels are no longer binded by rose windows, pointed arches, ornamentation, or sculpture. With the play of light and also the form and materials, how they brought up the soul, the spirit of the holy architecture to better, higher state. One thing I always conclude myself that I'll be seeing a modernist church, only when I am around 30, or older, when I am travelling around the world or stuff.

And the next thing I know, poof, I'm in Singapore.

The church was a 2 years old new church located at Bukit Batok, Singapore. For me, Singapore is a very small country, where the sizes of every building have to be comparatively smaller than the building over the other countries. Therefore it was quite a big challenge to create space within the limited space. It has to be optically, or visually vast when the actual building compound is small. The cantilevered roof in front of the main hall is my favorite element of all, where the big overhang roof cantilevered from the building, providing shelter and shade.

Now answering The Sad King's question :

http://thesadking.blogspot.com/2008/09/dematerialization.html

"Does St.Mary look better with people or without?"

My answer : Without.

The church is a very popular church where the main hall is always flooded by hundreds followers of Jesus when there's a worship session going on every weekend. Withconstant maintenence, good services and amenities provided, the Church of St.Mary has shown its user-friendly and welcoming side.

I am lucky enough that I get to visit the Church twice, when there are crowd and there are none.

Stepping into the compound, we're welcomed by the four huge crucifixes, on the wall of the Bell Tower, facing four different direction, North South East and West. I can see the similarities between this Bell Tower and Tadao Ando's Church on the Water. Tadao's four crucifixes facing each direction represents the absorption of the spirituality from every direction into the church. Now I wonder if this church's four crucifixes portraits the same thing.

The elements in the building has enhanced the spirituality of the church. The square in front of the main hall with a round shaped pond as the center point. The play of water and translucent element, goes with the round shaped form, has enhanced the tranquility within. The extra comfort and relaxation given by listening to the water flow in the silent.
It's very wrong to say that the St.Mary church will be better without people as it contradicts the idea of gathering the community that proposed by the church authority. It shall put it in a way that, the little wonder of the church can be seen, only when the church is left alone. The main color of the Church is one sided to the gray scale, where more dull color can be seen. The play of the different elements has triggered the human 5 senses, telling you the story, guiding you step by step to find out the beauty of the Church. When the view reflected by the water and the light shine through the glass partition into the interior. It's like a silent movie, running by itself, waiting for you to watch it.

hope I made my point and answered the question.

Photos are taken without proper photographic skills, but I love the end results.