11. San Josemaria Escriva Church, France
Architect: Javier Sordo Madaleno Bringas
Completed: 2008
The architects developed the concept with geometrical strokes and enrolling in the repetition of the 7 golden rectangles, two curves referring to the Christian fish symbol, and raised these curves with straight lines to a diagonal in the rectangle forming the cross of light, facing north. Enrolled in this abstract symbolism, the set consists of three parts: The Temple is the main building that stands out for its height and shape from the base of stone like the church itself, and the rest of the complex is traced as a duplicate of the curve that gives the origin. For the external surfaces, zinc panels in the form of scales create an insulating and flexible skin that defines the structure erected over the stone plinth, a base formed from terraces where olive trees and other plants grow.
12. Matri Mandir, India
Architect: Roger Anger
Completed: 2008
Matri Mandir is situated in a small experimental township in Auroville, near Pondicherry established by Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy on human unity. It took 37 years to build and it’s in the form of a huge sphere and twelve petals creating the way to the inner chambers. People all over the world travel here to practice meditation. This building tries to represent the philosophy of Sri Aurobindo which is translated by the French architect Roger Anger. The dome is covered by golden discs which are made up of steel and then gold plated.
13. Holy Redeemer Church, Spain
Architect: Menis Arquitectos
Completed: 2007
It is a place that encourages reflection, a meditation space, an intrinsic space. The building exists as a large piece of concrete split and cuts into four large volumes, at these separations movement occurs. This space creates a light, allowing entering into the spaces; they conceptualized to signify a higher meaning inspiring a spiritual presence and sense of calmness in the church.
14. Jubilee Church, Italy
Architect: Richard Meier
Completed: 2003
The 27,000ft² building in white concrete and glass, is located at the Tor Tre Teste area, which provides a new focal point for the community of 8,000. The plan is basically traditional, with a nave, altar, side chapel and confessional booths, and accommodates about 264 parishioners, with 240 seated in the main nave, and 24 in the day chapel.
The most distinctive feature of the church is the three curved shell walls, height of nearly 90ft above the building. These are made from concrete shells, with a marble-like finish, reinforced with steel and are held together by post-tensioned cables horizontally and vertically.
In interiors, direct sunlight doesn’t enter the church, but there are a series of glass skylights between the shells and over the main space, which are lit by sidelights, creating changing patterns of light and shade on the interior.
15. Chapel In Valleaceron, Spain
Architect: S-M.A.O
Completed: 2001
The Chapel of Valleacerón is a folding concrete structure with a naked design. It has no artificial lighting and thus relies only on natural lighting to illuminate the space, emphasizing the symbolism of the project. The close relationship between landscape, space and objects, each item had to provide a different response with different emphasis, from the most symbolic to the most silent or private. The unifying thread was to be the concept of the fold. It is developed around the study and manipulation of a focally tensed box-fold.
The exterior-interior spatial relationship determines its focus by interplaying with light and golden concrete. Both of them are in contrast like fragile, changing, mobile, unstable, dominating, or vanishing.
16. Lotus Temple, India
Architect: Fariborz Sahba
Completed: 1986
True to its name, this spiritual centre is famous for its flower-like structure. Following Bahai’s architecture style, composed of 27 free-standing marble-clad petals that are arranged in clusters of three to form nine sides which further form into three concentric rings. Petals in the first ring face outward, forming canopies over the nine entrances. The second ring covers the outer hall. In the innermost ring, the petals curve inward to partially enclose the central prayer hall, which accommodates about 2,500 people. The top of the structure appears open but actually contains a glass-and-steel roof that admits natural daylight. The outer as well as the inner surface of the arches are cladded with white marble panels fixed to the concrete surface with specially designed stainless steel brackets and anchors.
17. Wotruba Church, Austria
Architect: Fritz Wotruba and Fritz G. Mayr
Completed: 1976
The Wotruba Church is a prime example of how an artistic approach can change architectural practice and product. The church is formed from 152 concrete blocks, bolted together in a chaotic, abstract manner. The windows are built into the irregular spaces between the blocks allowing for natural light to create changing patterns within the concrete block walls of the church.
18. Pilgrimage Church, Germany
Architect: Gottfried Böhm
Construction: 1972
This crystalline structure abandons traditional Catholic architecture in favor of sharp angles and rough concrete. Church of the Pilgrimage is a colossal concrete form that rises above the rooftops of the medieval German town. It announces the destination of a historical pilgrimage that once attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Brickwork paving and street lamps continue inside the building to give the interior the feeling of a covered public square. The angular roofline is most commonly compared with the shape of a tent.
19. Cathedral of Brasilia, Brazil
Architect: Oscar Niemeyer
Completed: 1970
The cathedral is a hyperboloid structure constructed from 16 concrete columns, weighing 90 tons each. The church bears much importance in the society, so the design had to have significance and personality against its surroundings. Oscar Niemeyer, the architect of the cathedral was sure to make a statement with the powerful expression and unique form which led to his acceptance of the Pritzker Prize in 1988. Hand-painted ceramic tiles cover the walls of the oval-shaped Baptistery, done by Athos Bulcao in 1977. The Cathedral is completed with its bell tower, housing four bells that were donated by Spain. Details of the interior include stained glass windows, with different shades of blue, white, and brown. Inside the nave, there are three angels which are suspended by steel cables.
20. Usafa Cadet Chapel, USA
Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Constructed: 1962
The architects were commissioned to design the United States Air Force Academy, Cadet Chapel. It’s for the training center for officers of the United States Air Force. In creating a monumental religious building; the design incorporated a monumental structure system. Seventeen rows of spires rise 150 feet high coming to seventeen points shooting towards the sky above, using repetition to enhance the powerful essence of each massive spire. These spires are used with a tubular steel frame of 100 identical tetrahedrons that make up the structure. They are enclosed with aluminum panels and spaced a foot apart. The gaps in between these tetrahedrons are filled with colored glass, reflecting the light of the chapel.
