SHONAN CHRIST CHURCH BY TAKESHI HOSAKA

Japanese architect reconcile church and modern architecture

Churches used to be an opportunity to push the limits of architectural science – closer to God, some might say. Grandiose churches may be a thing of the past, but it seems that religious institutions have started to regain interest in architecture. That’s what Shonan Crist Church by Takeshi Hosaka proves in a radical way. Indeed, the building has nothing of what we might expect from a church, and yet, its concept is not that far from those of ancient churches and cathedrals.

At first, what’s so striking about the Shonan Christ Church is the use of concrete and metal – materials that are nothing like the noble materials of marble, stone or old woods – for the decor. But, here, the use of simple materials speaks louder than gaudy ornamentation.

What turns out to be the real conceptual idea of this building is actually hidden in its shape. There again, it’s quite unconventional and looks nothing like the churches we know. But one look at the blue prints and everything makes sense. A church is supposed to be the representation of a superior and perfect being that is yet invisible. Hosaka shaped the roof of the building with large and invisible circles that are, by definition, perfection in terms of geometry.These circles are only suggested by the shape of the roof. But the real catch here is the space created by these curved roofs. They allow the light to enter the main room in big beaming rays. Let there be light!