Church of St Cyril of Turau and All the Patron Saints (also known as Belarusian Memorial Chapel) is the first wooden church built in London since the Great Fire of 1666. Designed by Spheron Architects, the chapel in Woodside Park has been built for the Belarusian diaspora community in the UK, and is dedicated to the memory of victims of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. The chapel sits surrounded by 13 statutorily protected trees in the grounds of Marian House, a community and cultural centre for the UK Belarusian community in north London. Its design offers a mixture of traditional and contemporary elements and, like many rural churches in Belarus, the chapel will offer a gentle presence among the trees of its garden setting.
Spheron Architects co-founder Tszwai So spent time in Belarus, recording and sketching traditional churches in the villages populating the rural areas. The after-effects of the nuclear reactor explosion were felt particularly severely in Belarus, where 70% of the fallout fell, forcing many thousands of people to leave their homes and resettle around the world, including in the UK. The domed spire and timber shingle roof are common features of hundreds of traditional churches in Belarus and will offer familiarity, comfort and memories to London's Belarusian community, many of whom moved to the UK following the Chernobyl disaster, while others have displaced by subsequent political and economic upheaval in their homeland. Spheron Architects have introduced a series of contemporary twists to the basic traditional form, however, such as the undulating timber frill of the flank walls which enlivens the exterior. Natural light enters through low-level and concealedclerestory windows running the length of the chapel, and through tall frosted windows on the front elevation. At night, soft light from within allows the chapel to gently glow. Inside the chapel will be decorated with a series of historic icons set into a timber screen separating the nave from the altar area in the apse.
The chapel replaces the Belarusian Catholic Mission’s makeshift place of worship inside the existing community centre. Accommodating up to 40 people, the new chapel serves not only as an important spiritual focus for the Belarusian community, but also as a lasting memorial to the victims of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. This project is saturated in Belarusian historical and cultural symbolism, while also firmly embedded in UK architectural innovation. This chapel stands as a visible spiritual token, a ray of hope and an expression of faith by the Belarusian community in the face of disaster. Whilst being a focal point for Belarusian locals to enjoy and utilise, the Chapel aims to be viewed with welcoming curiosity by everyone, and encourage interest in that country from which its artistic inspiration was drawn.

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Belarusian Memorial Chapel

London, United Kingdom

Other Projects by Spheron Architects

Remembering Chernobyl Exhibition - London Festival of Architecture 2016

Belarusian Memorial Chapel

London, United Kingdom

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