Pilgrimage church, built by the visitors, for the visitors.
In this scheme, we envision a place of worship that brings together people from all countries, races and religions. We propose an open-air church, one that is built by the congregation. We have devised a “pilgrimage” that is an alternative way for participants to seek spiritual benefit.Visitors to the site are themselves an intrinsic element in both the experience of construction and of worship. In this case, the object of worship is nature itself.
The pilgrimage requires each participant to carry a few small components with them, and once arrived, they are asked to cooperate with one another to assemble the components and arrange the construction. This encourages people to communicate and integrate with each other, working together under a unified goal. By joining the pilgrimage, the entirety of the hike – two hours each way – becomes a part of the architecture’s experience. It allows people to walk with a more spiritual mindset, and to engage with the wider spectrum of this amazing landscape.
The architecture is made solely of aluminium square tubes, bolted together onto corner joints to compose a unit of 400mm cube.
The completed project will be comprised of 1,850 cubes, or over 16,000 parts.
The completed project will be comprised of 1,850 cubes, or over 16,000 parts.
The first stage of the construction begins with the placement of an alter near the cliff. This signifies the object of worship as nature, and identifies the direction of further evolvment. The meditation dome, which requires an enclosed space, must also be constructed in this earlier stage. The second stage sees the development of what we call the Hall - an open space gently encompassed by sloping walls.
The circular form of the design is intended to highlight the angular geometry of Pulpit rock. By resolving the conflict of two contrasting geometries, the design seeks to unify Nature and Architecture into one. The use of dome or sphere is often seen in religious architecture of different faiths as a symbolism for the cosmos. By adopting the same geometry, our design aims to become more relatable and comparable to people from diverse religious background.
The cubes generate two distinct spaces. The main Hall, with its circular plan, is defined by wall of cubes that gradually gets taller towards the hill. The tiers of the wall can be used as seating, where visitors can view the changing scenery across the fjords, inviting them to connect with the landscape, the sky and the universe beyond. The Meditation Space, on the other hand, is in an enclosed dome shape. Secluded from the crowed and surrounding landscape, this space for a small group is a place for self-reflection. In contrast to the unobstructed and expansive character of the Hall, the dome focuses the attention inward, allowing the visitor to ponder deeply into their own thoughts.
Design: Kiyoshi Chida and Louie Hamilton
Kyoto, June 2017
