Chapel of St. Ignatius

FINISH MODEL

Steven Holl

“When we move through space with a twist and turn of the head, mysteries of gradually unfolding yeilds of overlapping perspectives are charged with a range of light… Steven Holl

”

For the chapel, Holl first took into account the more abstract ideas of the situation and formed it into the vernacular architecture. Holl then added the building as the metaphysical. In the end the outcome of this equation is the “experience” which is the expression and intention of the building.

experience

Holl’s theory of parallax is defined through constant movement and the fluid feeling of space, and overlapping, shifting perspectives of walls, far objects and near views. Parallax is created through fluid wall, ceiling and furniture designs that give experiences such as “curvilinear, bending, aqueous spaces.”

elements of parallax

“The merging of object and field yields an enmeshed experience, an interaction that is particular to architecture. Steven Holl”

Holl views perception as metaphorical and conveys the

metaphysics of light through, forms and space. His designs of

space and time have infinite possible geometrical expressions but a finite intended idea. The meaning can be

found in his intertwining of a building’s site, phenomena and

function.He recognizes that the different intensities of light and

how they reflect influence the psychological association of a

space. His goal is to create a personal interaction through the

“shifting, changing, merging materials, textures, colors and light

in an intertwining of flat and deep three-dimensional parallactical

space and time.”

light

Holl designs his space to have changing qualities of light and material for the background, middle ground and foreground which he calls architectural synthesis. He considers everything from the material and placement of furniture, light from windows, material on the floor and objects on desks to create an the perception of intertwining each element.

Holl’s goal is to intensify the experience of his building through material. He thinks that our sense of touch is lost through synthetic materials such as vinyl coverings. He aims to enhance the natural properties of materials by transforming them using methods such as bending glass, sandblasting glass, using varying thicknesses of glass, atomizing and oxidizing metals and incorporating natural woods. Holl wants to trap light, project it in a diffused glow and create a gradually changing luminescence.

intertwining

As a whole the chapel of St. Ignatius is a symbol of coming together and forming a community. Holl calls his process anchor-ing; a complex idea that merges elements of the site and natural building compo-nents to create a meditative space and promote independent thought.

Our main goal in recreating this was to keep the sense of worship and together-ness as Holl meant it to be and focus our work on these sacred elements and the space around them. By immitating this model, we were able to reflect Steven Holl’s success with light, space and mate-rial.

*ANOTHER FULL PICTURE

citationsMision & Ministry, S. U. (2011, 10 02). Virtual tour. Retrieved from http://www.seattleu.edu/missionministry/chapel/inner.aspx?id=5100

MVGZY. (Photographer). (2007). Chapel of st. ignatius interior no. 4. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/mugzy555/1797040500/

Mision & Ministry, S. U. (2011, 10 02). Chapel of st. ignatius . Retrieved from http://www.seattleu.edu/missionministry/chapel/galleries/entrance/

Mision & Ministry, S. U. (2011, 10 02). About the chapel. Retrieved from http://www.seattleu.edu/missionministry/chapel/

Mabel, J. (Photographer). (2007). Seattle u st ignatius. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Seattle_U_St_Ignatius_23.jpg

Holl, S. (1998). Intertwining. New York: Princeton Architectural Press.