Typology: Architectureal design, Chapel & community space, Competition entry

Role: Research, Concept and Design development, Planning, 3D modelling, Drawings, Presentation and layout design.

Location: Rukomo, Rwanda

Proposed: 2019

Team: Mazin Ali and Stalin K. O

CONCEPT AND PHILOSOPHY

“Faith is the substance of things

hoped for, the evidence of things

not seen.”

Faith is an affirmed spiritual conviction to the divine. It is the basic prerequisite to begin a relationship with the Divine spirit. It acts as the mind’s bridge into the spiritual realm, which links the Divine and makes it a tangible reality to the sense perceptions of a person. It also stands to be a prerequisite for hope and love. Hope on the other hand is the anticipation of something to occur; An expectation to be fulfilled. A desire for a case to ‘be’. The concept of the spatial intervention tends to reflect the commitment of the two notions: faith and hope, and its inseparable relationship when it comes to reaching the Divine. The ‘pilgrim’ is set on a path, a small journey which takes one on a subtle trial of faith; and it is only by hope and humility, can one reach the hidden place of the Divine.

THE CHAPEL OF CONTEMPL ATION

The chapel resonates with the contemplative and meditative state of the mind. Aware of its presence in the environment yet at comfort within. Patterns that create a sense of visual rhythm, glowing with light and shadow placed in equal balance. The sense of being inside, in the middle of an ‘outside’. The Chapel space focuses on creating an atmosphere of peaceful intimacy to connect with the Divine.

THE OPEN CHAPEL

As an alternative to the Chapel space, the side screen walls of the Nave can be slid open to create a semi open chapel space, which basically invites the external environment in to the church space. And in events of larger public gatherings, the entire axis of the chapel can be rotated to have the congregation seated outdoors. This flexibility to morph the space into multiple spatial arrangements allows for intimate and public spaces as well. The open chapel space ‘completes’ the transept of the chapel, with its ‘non-building’ form, thereby reinterpreting the traditional cross-form plans of churches. The space embraces the natural harmony of the environment and brings the pilgrims to worship in the presence of ‘creation’ itself. The actual cross of the open chapel, rests among lush trees with an ever changing skyscape.