Seashore Chapel by Vector Architects
28/07/2016.
[Beidaihe New District] China
metalocus, ELENA GALLEGO DE VELASCO
metalocus, ELENA GALLEGO DE VELASCO
Description of the project by Vector Architects
We imagine the Seashore Chapel as an old boat drifting on the ocean long time ago. The ocean receded through time and left an empty structure behind, which is still lying on the beach.
The space is thus divided vertically. The covered outdoor space naturally becomes a resting place for people on the beach. It is also a space connecting religious space to the mundane life. When the tide rises, this space will be submerged by water. At that moment, the imagery of the drifting boat emerges out of the chapel.
The atmosphere on upper floor is intensely divine and religious. The spatial experience begins on the 30 meters path leading to the chapel. When people gradually approach, the cue emerges indicating the suspending space on the other side through the 600mm wide gap in the middle of the grand staircases. With a glimpse of ocean in distance, they walk up the stairs, go through the gate, and make a turn around the screen wall into the space with unblocking ocean view. The relationship between space and the ocean is closer due to the elevated position. The view is isolated from the beach and people, leaving the outstretched ocean the only view in sight.
There are limited openings on the chapel. The only large horizontal ocean-view window is on the east facade. Its 2.7m height helps to avoid the interruption of excessive light to the interior, and also frames the view to the ocean. A few narrow gaps in between the walls also bring in natural lighting. Lighting is carefully controlled with the 10-meter tall interior space misting diffused light. On the east facade, a triangle opening gently illuminates the cross from both bottom and up. There is another light channel on top of the pitched roof allows the natural light streaming into the space which is a 300mm gap between the bended wall on north and the pitched roof. At the noon of spring, summer and fall, when the solar altitude is almost perpendicular, the light projects directly onto the wall on north, generating vivid lighting effect. Although the lights does not stay for long, the texture of the stucco wall is emphasized and celebrated by the light at the moment, and becomes a touchable skin. On the north side, there is a cantilevered space of meditation. The space can merely fit in one person where the walls wrap your body tightly, and one curvy wall extends the sight towards the distant ocean.
The design of this chapel considers natural ventilation comprehensively. In order to maintain the uniform and continuous exterior appearance, all the windows are hidden in the gaps between the main envelope and several pieces of paralleled sliding-out walls.
Seashore Chapel serves the resort community on its west side. It is the artificial space that is the closest to the ocean in the community. Apart from religious programs, many public and community events are planned in Seashore Chapel. Together with Seashore Library, they provide spiritual spaces at ocean front, where people can slow down their pace, experience the nature and examine their inner state.
GONG DONG, one of the most active young architects in China, received Bachelor & Master of Architecture from Tsinghua University, followed by a diploma at University of Illinois where he received the Master of Architecture. He also had an exchange experience at Technical University of Munich. During his study in America, Gong Dong received several awards including Excellence Award from Steedman Fellowship International Architectural Design Competition, 2000; First Prize from American Institute of Architects Chicago Chapter’s Student Design Competition,2001 and Excellence Award from Malama Learning Centre International Architecture Design Cmpetition,2002. Prior to establishing his own practice he worked for Soloman Cordwell Buenz & Associates in Chicago, then at Richard Meier & Partners and Steven Holl Architects in New York.
VECTOR ARCHITECTS was founded in 2008, Beijing. During seven years practice, we have always believed that design needs to confront problems, and it should be the attitude an architect ought to possess. Instead of enforcing architect's self-conscious or following icons and superficial forms, a good design has to respect the existing environment with support of logic and reasons. The contemporary Chinese design industry today is rather blundering that the rapid production and pursuit of landmark in height, size and form have become the main stream.
Architects no longer devote their effort for the fundamental and substantial truth of architecture. In this environment, the persistence of confronting problems remains essential and crucial. In every project, Vector Architects is devoted to discover the unrevealing relationship and various possibilities in existing context. Through our design, to create the new perception and experience which are exclusive to each project. The sense of ‘being here’ is uniquely established and reflected in percipient's emotion and action. Therefore, the space, being the vessel of living, has formed an irreplaceable connection between place and experience.