Church of the New and the Old
View/ Open
Abstract
Churches undoubtedly serve as an inspiration for many architects. Their emotional
and physical presence to move people is undeniable. However, we can see a shift in their design
and meaning through time. As the world changes so does the physical church building
and our understanding of their light and material. From the Gothic cathedral to American
sprawl, the desire for beauty has more and more turned into rational practicality. This problem
not only affected the aesthetics of these buildings but can also has high probability
of affecting the spiritual encounter that can happen through their design. The beginning
church serves a different purpose than what we see in America today. In the bible we see
how the first Christian church functioned, “And all the believers met together in one place
and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the
money with those in need. They worshiped together at the temple each day, met in homes
for the Lord’s supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity¬- all the while
praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people” (Acts 2:44-47). The design proposal
at hand is to take the old and the new to make something that resembles previous times in
a modern context.