Bosjes Chapel by Steyn Studio
An undulating roof gives the Bosjes Chapel by Steyn Studio a dramatic silhouette, mirroring the jagged outline of the South African mountains and referencing regional Cape Dutch architecture. This cast concrete roof canopy dips down to the ground in some areas to meet a reflecting pool out front, and rises in others to reveal glazed walls. The large, open internal space frames views of the landscape.
Syndhaven Church Proposal by Jaja Architects
While the design by NOMOstudio above is far flashier, this proposal by Jaja Architects won the competition with a similar idea executed very differently. Instead of rising from the ground straight up to the pinnacle, this design offers roof access via a spiral walkway of ramps making its way gradually to the top, aiming to offer a balance of spiritual space and community space
Residential Chapel by Bernardes Arquitetura
Elevated to the level of the tree canopy to look out onto the beach, this private chapel on the Brazilian coast by Bernardes Arquitetura offers views in all four directions thanks to its vertically arranged beams walled in with glass.
Hoshino Stone Church by Kendrick Bangs Kellogg
A domino-like cascade of progressively larger semicircles characterizes the exterior of the Hoshino Stone Church by American architect Kendrick Bangs Kellogg, completed in 1988 in the Nagano prefecture of Japan. The interior is designed as a liner journey to its center, with an emphasis on natural light.
