Two significant conceptual explorations gave form to the design for the Church of Saint Aloysius: “re-pitching the tent” and the four devotions of St. Aloysius.
“Repitching the tent”; expressed in the delicate soaring roof lines evokes the concept of simple worship. The roof is drawn from Old Testament references to pitching of the tent as a place for worship and New Testament revival references to repitching the tent. The metaphor of a tent yields a building rich in concept and formal expression. Exploration of the structural options to span the main Sanctuary in the context of the aspirations of the of the design intent led to the economy offered by the hyperbolic paraboloid roof structure. Both the project team and the Church building committee embraced the emotional qualities of this form and were enamored with its elegance and the fluid lines reminiscent with those that one might expect to see in a fabric tent.
During the development process, the team expressed a strong interest in the life of Saint Aloysius. Following several weeks of research into the teachings of Saint Aloysius, both his life and his four devotions became the anchors inside which the space of worship is organized. The Four Devotions of St. Aloysius – Blessed Sacrament, Passion of Our Lord, Love of Our Lady, and Choir of Angels – sit adjacent to the large concrete buttresses which anchor the roof “tent” providing axial focal points to organize the semi-circular seating and establishing a clear connection with the over arching form of the building.
The Church of Saint Aloysius is noted for creating a sacred space that tells the story of its purpose through its architectural expression. While worshipers may not fully understand all the subtleties on their initial interaction with the building, over time, they are encouraged to pursue a greater understanding of the intent and thereby the faith tradition established by their patron saint, St. Aloysius.
2009 - Metal Architecture Magazine, Metal Roofing Award
2009 - McGraw Hill New York Region Project of the Year
2009 - McGraw Hill Construction Award for Best Architectural
Design
View Original