As man progresses and technology develops year by year, generation by generation; the definition of creativity too progresses, and thus progresses architecture. And so, the architecture of the churches – replacing the traditional definition of church space, and contemplation, and the need for an enclosure to connect with the higher power. No visually different from the modern residential and commercial building, man has taken the modern churches to another level of creativity, that has begun to blend with the surrounding structures, yet creating a dominant form. Here’s a list of a few of the modern churches, which will take your breath away.
1. Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, England | Modern Churches
Built in 1967, the design has a tent-like shape and has flying buttresses attached to the circular central plan which forms a cone while rising upward, and visually continues to form pinnacles reaching the sky. Stained glass windows cover a large area of the cathedral to light the interiors, with seating in a circular pattern.
2. The Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, United States
The church was built in 1970 and has been designed taking the inspiration from a geometric principle of a hyperbolic paraboloid. This gives gentle curves to the structure joining gently to form a cross. These edges of the cross give space for a stained glass window, which illuminates the internal space in the shape of the cross.
3. Santuario Madonna della Lacrime, Italy
The conical-shaped church standing 74 meters high in Sicily, is believed to be in the form of a tear-drop, having ribs. The ribs give rise to cuboids on ground (which also houses individual chapels) along with providing light.
4. Grundtvig’s Church, Denmark
This church is an example of expressionist church architecture built in 1913. The stunning façade is inspired by the stepped gables of the nearby villages and is made entirely of bricks. The church features an amalgamation of various building styles. Unlike other Gothic churches, the interior is minimal, having bricks on columns and vaults. The yellow color of the bricks represents ascension.
5. North Christian Church, United States | Modern Churches
Built in 1964, this church has a metal spire 59 meters high that sits on a hexagonal plan. Inspired by the steps of Angkor Wat, the architect designed steps inside so that the users could interact with space and reach for the higher power.
6. Church of light, Japan
Designed by Tadao Ando, the Church of Light has a cross-shaped cut in the wall. There is a play of light and shadow where the wall is in shadow and the cross in illumination. The natural material of the flooring and the pews, wood- that connects man with nature, is softly highlighted by this illumination.
7. Hallgrímskirkja church, Iceland
The architect of this church was inspired by Iceland’s landscape, the mountains, glaciers, and basalt columns. The central facade resembles the volcanoes, and its sides represent the cooled down lava residue. The church stands tallest in the skyline of Iceland at 74.6 meters.
8. Parish Church of Santa Monica, Spain
A unique style, the design has protrusions for windows and tapering end on the backside, designed to fit inside the plot to occupy a maximum area. The church is clad entirely in pre-rusted steel. Due to its longitudinal plan, the windows project in one direction to allow for maximum diffused sunlight to enter the interior space. The pews, too, are arranged in the direction of these projected windows.
9. Nova Serrana Chapel, Brazil
The church design has tilted concrete walls on a concave-shaped plan. The walls are bare and kept to the minimum to create a tranquil and distraction-free environment. The concave roof has slits that provide sun rays in sharp angles to light up the interior.
10. Bruder Klaus Field Chapel, Germany | Modern Churches
A perfect example of sensual architecture, architect Peter Zumthor has well achieved the balance between haptics – lights and shadows – sound (created intentionally, softly by using materials, as one enters the silent space) – and tranquility. Yet, the exterior stands simple amid the fields and landscape.
