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Architects: Lee Eunseok, Oh Jongsang
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Photographs:Park youngchae
Located in the newly developed residential district, GwanggyoJeil church was designed on unique architectural aesthetics specific to Protestant ideals of frugality and modesty. The concrete box containing minimum of the architectural elements formulates its own quality independent from and incomparable to overtly decorative architecture. So it appears to be simple, sleek, and solid.
As is required by the landshape, the building design tried to render compositional quality and harmony in horizontal composition rather than vertical monumentality. This church have open courtyard in the midst of the building and the courtyard is protected from automobile and pedestrian traffics. So the courtyard play a role as transcendent area and buffer zone between buzzing street and inner space.
The church facade is made of glass wall base which is designed as an educational and cultural space to act as an active linker to the society. Over the glass wall is a concrete box that separates the chapel uninterrupted by the secularity of the surrounding. Different from the most churches, that highlight the religious image with spire tower and cross,GwanggyoJeil church took an approach from the material point of view.
The religious messages that materials project-candidness of exposed concrete, transparency of glass, and refinement of zinc panel-correspond to the ideals of church. They also blend into the typical cityscape found in the precinct.
Different from the external wall in grey-scale, the inner space of the chapel is white-filled except for the limited patches of colors used in corridor and stage. By a simple and economical color scheme, we can make a lively and rich space. Richness of natural light with economical color scheme is the harmonious scene that today’s Christian church design should acquire: aesthetics of modesty and trustfulness.
In GwanggyoJeil church, grand chapel, various subsidiary rooms, cafeteria and rooftop terrace will be used as spaces of gathering unhindered and unrestricted to the neighboring citizens and becomes a cultural venue. The design directives summarize what contemporary church should become as a next door neighbor living side by side with the public.
