I am not a big fan of ultra minimalism, simply because it requires the aesthetic education of professionals in order to enjoy every aspect of it. I am not a big fan of religion because it has taken the reponsability of developing true human and humane morals out of our own resposability...but I was deeply moved by the overall quality of both the architecture, the costumes and life style of this Cistercian community in Novy Dvur. I just wanted to share it with those who did not know about it ...yet.
Hmm.
In one exterior view, the new part artfully and playfully riffs on the older construction -- minus a visible roof, perhaps just as well ? Is that dark blue tile, do you think ?
How about that regimen ? I'm just today starting Mr Dawkins' "The God Delusion" so the irony is delicious, if troubling ! Thanks for the visit. . .
SDR
pawson did
some nice stuff, correct me if i am wrong but i recall seeing a bathroom/shower designed by him where the floor was made out of giant tiles (1m²) but there was no 'hole' in the floor to get the water out, the water fled away through the joints (between the tiles was no joint in cement but it were grooces, it was open). can't find a pic on the net.
Wonderful building Koen,...
Wonderful building Koen, thanks for posting it.
Here is one of my favorites in Nebraska - churches are an interesting study in architecture, particularly in their Modern form, given in many cases their relationship to an unbelievably big cash cow and thus, an unbelievably big architect.
The photographs I am trying to post are a counterpoint to Johnson's Chrystal Cathedral (God is a billionaire and don't you forget it!)in California.
http://www.flickr.com.photos.presbyteer.sets.1154435
Oops I messed something up...
Oops I messed something up on the web link. The group of photos I tried to attach is a nice set of ten, with one from Interstate 80, which is, in my opinion, by far the best vantage point. If any of you ever recall driving the Interstate between Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska, you may recall seeing this magnificent building. If you really want to see the photographs, just go to Yahoo or Google and type the following ... Holy Family Shrine - a photoset on Flickr. Sorry I couldn't make it easier.
I see some parts that are brilliant, but the whole doesn't work for me...
I've thought about Pawson's church for awhile, as I'd seen these pics some months ago.
Several parts of it work. Most of the interior succeeds admirably, while the exteriors IMHO do not.
There is a distinct disconnect, or discontinuity between the exteriors and interiors of the flat roofed portion. The exterior is very industrial modern looking, while the interior is very spiritual modern looking--almost to the point of a joke. I do not find the industrial modern exterior organically indicative of what goes on in this order's external life, nor what about what goes on inside this part of the structure, though erhaps I do not know enough about the order's money earning work, or its worship activities either.
The visual theme of discontinuity also manifests between the pitched roof and flat roof portions of the structure. The discontinuity is not just attributable to the different roofs. Almost all the form language differs between the two parts of the two parts of the building. Were it not for use of white on both buildings and the spanning of both structures by a few horizontal lines, the discontinuity would be almost total. Now it is true that different functions occur in the two parts of the building, and form follows function, etc., but I these differing functions as less of a discontinuity and more as different facets manifesting from a single purpose. Hence, I think a more shared (integrated?) form language was called for.
Bottom line, I have a problem with the basic philosophical conception of this work and not with the execution of its parts.
I do not see a spiritual discontuity in this order either between inner and outer worlds, or between old and new in its historical timeline. I think Pawson's architecture--intentionally, I suspect, but perhaps unintentionally--imposes a discontinuity that in fact is probably not there. This imposition of discontinuity is quite appropriate and organic to many buildings housing organizations with histories indicating great discontinuity between present and past, outer message and inner purpose, etc., but I just do not think that such a discontinuity is truly indicative of the state of an order such as this. Hence, I think a more integrated form language would have been far more appropriate and truthful and beautiful.
But again, I find most of the interiors quite impressive, functional, beautiful and organic to the ascetic approach to spiritualist activity pursued by this order.
And perhaps there has been a great spiritual discontuity in this order--inside vs. outside of the individual and present vs. past of the order--that justifies what has been done by Pawson. But I think not.
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