A glorious gateway to St. Chrysostom, this small project demonstrates how dreary ubiquitous space requiring accessibility, egress and system upgrades was transformed into a relevant, inspiring 685 SF place for learning and play.
Tracery, arches, and peek-a-boo quatrefoils build upon the historic church’™s gothic sensibilities. The loft playspace and verticality of a cathedral of tinkertoy-like trees reinforce spatial and spiritual awareness, while creating canopied niches of exploration. The loft features wide stairs, doubling as seating and performance proscenium, controllable LED color-changing lights, and interactive wall panels encouraging fine motor and perception skills. Flexible, comfortable seating for caregivers at child-height creates shared experience.
A “play sandwich” places resource and storage at one end, play and plumbing at the other, with a “filling” of centers for messy art-making and creative play. To meet the 12-week schedule and budget constraints, custom millwork configured in original ways is balanced alongside affordable school furniture with intelligent built-in storage. A clever swap-out of stained wood cabinet doors adds charm. Candlestick-like fixtures familiar to churchgoers celebrate meaning and magnificence. Smart flooring and energy-efficient fans are pragmatic, integrated facets that ensure operational viability, comfort, and user-control. The Treehouse Chapel is an appropriate, friendly, and soaring reuse of architecture.
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