“Shush!!!”
Tectonic Exercises - report Aleš Moravec
“Welcome to chapel of silence...” “Nothing strengthen authority so much as silence.” Leonadro da Vinci
Location The assigned plot is located next to the Parktheatre on the corner of Stratumsedijk and Doctor Shaepmanlaan street, on outskirts of the Eindhoven’s city center. Apart from the adjacent theatre and Sint Joriskerk church, the surrounding architecture are average urban buildings, not providing any opportunity for continuation or development, therefore the place is free to accept new architectural forms. The only substantial aspect about the is the fact that it might be perceived as an entrance to Genneper park.
Silence Chapel of silence is not a religious place because I wanted to create a place for everyone regardless of religion. In today’s world it’s not difficult to find a place which is expected to make a profit, however it’s important to have a place which is quiet and its purpose is more ambiguous. Chapel of silence offers a space for calming down as well as it offers an opportunity for meditation and attaining self-knowledge.
Concept The concept is based on sound/noise absorption and reflection. As I mentioned above, it’s important to have a silent place in today’s hurried times, therefore I asked my self how to achieve or express silence? There are two possibilities, the first is by noise absorption and the other one is by noise reflection so producing of any sound or noise would by incredibly unpleasant. This idea was later on transformed into wall texture on the outside and in the inside. The outside wall surface is bumpy in order to “reflect” the noisy world, while the surface inside chapel is completely flat and glossy, intact surface, representing the absorption. Whole building is designed as a walked-through space in order to guide through the process of self-knowledge. Starting outside, going “through” the water - crossing the border between quiet and busy world and then entering the main “nave” - involving other then visual perception, exiting the “nave” to the bench, which is above the ground level in order to stay on top of things.
Materiality Chapel will be cast out of concrete in order to create stable, unchanging stereotomic volume. Heavy concrete walls are emphasizing the preciousness and uniqueness of silent place. The other parts of chapel like beams roof and bench are made out of steel to be a light, tectonic contrast to the stereotomic part. An inseparable part of the chapel is water, used in a similar way as Carlo Scarpa used it in Fondazione Querini Stampalia, binding all the parts together. Flowing from the outside to the inside, creating an ambiguous and independent element, forming the transition.
Atmosphere Atmosphere is the most important aspect of the chapel, therefore it was developed by small atmospheric sketches from the very beginning. The atmosphere in main “nave” should be serene and it should create an opportunity to concentrate on your-self. Therefore there will only be a small 10cm gap between the roof and walls, letting light to get inside in order to create ambient lighting. This narrow stripe of light also highlights verticality of the “nave” - “higher law”. There is also a window next to the floor lighting it softly. The window is designed to bring the maximum light inside while preventing view to the outside. This window is also very important element so the mirror finish on the ceiling works well. Water flows along the walls to repeat the situation at the ceiling level. In the middle of the “nave” there is a water mosaic disturbing integrity of the floor in order to create a gathering spot otherwise the space would be imaginary. Mosaic pattern is preventing from stepping in the center to keep everybody equal and remind that nothing can be perfect and ideal.
Structure As mentioned above the chapel is cast on site in concrete, creating heavy stereotomic mass, the heaviness is highlighted by the details under each beam and around the window. The mass subtraction might have two meaning, one that the beam and roof are light therefore they don’t need so much material to support them or the second point of view might be that the wall is still stable even after the material subtraction. However the intention of that detail was to highlight the heaviness of the mass. The most steel part joints connecting bench with beams are treated as “traditional carpentry joints” therefore they don’t require welding. Joints connecting for example roof and beams or the walk-able part of the bench, are treated as “hidden welds”, same principle was used by Mies van der Rohe at Farnsworth house project.
“When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.� Ansel Adams
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“Never miss a good chance to shut-up.� Will Rogers
“Enjoying art is a personal matter. It’s made up by contemplation, silence and abstraction.” Renzo Piano
window | beam
floor | roof
bench
“Remember the experience...”