Planting and Growing Sustainable Churches by Daniel Shaffer

Planting + Growing Sustainable Churches Daniel Shaffer

LSU School of Architecture Arch 5102 Thesis Studio Fall Semester 2013 Professor: Catherine Bonier

Table of Contents Introduction ........................................................................................... 9 Bamboo Garden

........................................................................................... 13

Factory

........................................................................................... 29

Church

........................................................................................... 33

Site Analysis

........................................................................................... 55

Thesis Proposal

........................................................................................... 63

CHURCH

SUSTAINABILITY

CHURCH + SUSTAINABILITY = PROJECT

Introduction From a theological point of view, the church should be at the forefront of sustainable design, because we are commanded to take care of God’s creation. God is the one who created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1), asked us to fill it and subdue it (Genesis 1:28), and asked us to work it and keep it (Genesis 2:15). The Bible also tells us that everything on the earth is in His hand (Job 12:10). Therefore, since God has created everything and everything is His, should we not be more concerned with taking care of what He has given us? Yes we should, but with the introverted consumer of resources that the church has become it is doubtful that proper, environmental stewardship is a high priority for the church. What if this cycle consumption were reversed and the church switched to become a producer rather than just a consumer? This would include not only the church building, but more importantly the site, and also the people that attend that local church. A change in thinking must take place. There are a myriad of church types and denominations, but there are no LEED certified churches in Louisiana. My design focus is on non-denominational protestant churches. In the research process, I’ve examined a wide array of church types with an interest in creating an atmosphere for contemporary churches which maintains its simplicity while also maintaining a sense of reverence and connection to nature in the space. My studies revealed that Christian church buildings were first built in the third century, but before this they met in home and other small meeting areas. They have grown in a variety of ways in response to changes in worship as well as changes in building practice. My case studies struggled with defining different spatial qualities that have evolved through time, and how they have contributed to church appearances and atmospheres, as well as to the community of the church. While my architectural research addressed buildings, a church is made up of people, not just a building. In Southern Louisiana, we have a culture of small churches and small congregations spread throughout the region. There are about 3.9 churches per square mile in New Orleans and 6.3 in Baton Rouge. These churches vary in size from thousands of people to a couple dozen. The majority of these churches are built from typical materials such as steel or wood. These materials have to be collected, fabricated, and transported because they cannot be produced on site. Likewise, the people of the congregation of the church live off site and have to transport themselves to worship. The church building has become an introverted consumer of goods and energy that exists in isolation. With this model of a church the question could be raised, are we being good stewards of what our God has given us? In order to provide a new model for church-building, I began by disestablishing an existing church building on a site with underdeveloped land, and reworked the entire site towards a new model of sustainability. The land will be cleared, and a bamboo prayer garden will be planted. This garden will engage the rest of the site as a spiritual location for the church, and this garden will be harvested and used as a construction material for a new church building. Although bamboo is not yet typically used in North American structures, it has 5 times the compressive strength of concrete and more tensile per pound strength than steel, and has been used with success elsewhere in the world for many years. Bamboo has a material and atmospheric quality that allowed me to begin to pursue my earlier questions about how a simple church structure might capture some of the qualities of nature and light that are typically only found in larger more ornate churches. I chose Moso bamboo as the primary resource for the building structure, with smaller species such as “Golden Golden” bamboo for landscape and enclosure elements at a human scale. Due to the rapid growth rate of Moso, which reaches 65 feet in about 16 years, the garden will replenish itself and eventually be used to construct other buildings for the benefit of the wider community. The introverted state of the church will be reversed as the site and church become producers within a cyclical process, rather than consumers in a model that exhausts the land God has given us.

Project Diagram This diagram below represents the new model of building churches. A bamboo garden establishes the site as a spiritual location. This garden is harvested and becomes the construction material for the church. The church members then continue to harvest the garden to build homes for the community.

source BAMBOO PRAYER GARDEN (spiritual location)

source source CHURCH (built from garden)

source COMMUNITY (built from garden by the church)

Cycle of Production This diagram below represents the three components of the project and also the cycle of production for the new church. The garden becomes a place for the church to pray. The factory harvests what the garden produces and the church will supply the labor for the factory to fabricate products and build the church.

Introduction

BAMBOO GARDEN

Why bamboo?

Advantages:

Bamboo is the fastest growing woody plant on the planet, with some species growing up to 35-48 inches/day making bamboo one of the fastest growing renewable resources. It is extremely versatile, and these uses range from food, to clothing, to flooring all the way to the structure of a building. There are over 10,000 different species of bamboo, 490 of which are in the US and Canada alone.

Low mass-to-flexibility ratio (earthquake) Strength-to-weight ratio equal to steel in tension Five time stronger than concrete Rapid growth usable in four to six years. Regrows in 59 days vs. wood 60 years. Wood produces 17.5 tons per hectare in a year, bamboo produces 78.3 (3.3 times more) Sequesters CO2 Natural A/C up to -15º Reduces soil erosion Bamboo has been used as a Extreme resistance to abrasion construction material for hundreds of Aids in forest conservation years in countries of Asia and South America. It is part of the finished product, Disadvantages: but it is also used in the building Nomadic Museum - Simon Velez process as scaffolding as well. Bamboo Structural behavior can vary scaffolding can be used for buildings Vulnerable to ultraviolet rays and rain ten’s of stories tall. Although widely used Requires protection during handling around the world, it is typically used in Susceptible to insects and fungus North America only as a finish material Round section and tendency to crack such as flooring or paneling. Architects, Complicates joints and supports like Simon Velez in Columbia, are striving Conical profile changes diameter along to bring awareness to the possibilities its length of building with bamboo, like in the Rarely is stem totally straight Nomadic Museum built in Mexico City Structural calculations and permits are depicted in the image to the right. difficult to obtain

In an article published by Popular Mechanics, “Can American Farms Make Bamboo the Next Big Cash Crop?” Louisiana is the subject of conversation. “Heinricher (owner of Boo-Shoot garden) envisions bamboo forests reviving the Delta’s agricultural economy, which once relied on cotton crops but has generally fallen on hard times. Dr. Brian Baldwin, associate professor of plant and soil sciences at Mississippi State University, says mild, wet winters have helped bamboo species closely related to Moso do ‘exceedingly well here.’ He considers the region viable for large-scale production. Ted Rose, principal of the consulting firm Rose Carbon, predicts economic opportunities for farmers in the emerging marketplace of cap-and-trade commerce. Bamboo agriculture can generate ‘carbon reduction’ credits under current cap-and-trade rules, Rose says, so farmers producing Moso in the Delta could potentially sell their credits on the open market. Citing examples of Moso farms in Nicaragua already taking advantage of these transactions, Rose says, ‘It’s just another revenue stream for farmers.’”

Building with Bamboo - Gernot Minke

0 - 30 days

food

1 year

2 years

3 - 4 years

structure

Why Bamboo

Common Questions As I was presenting the project throughout the semester, there were some common misconceptions or aspirations about bamboo that I would like to clear up. 1.Does bamboo spreads like weeds? Bamboo is actually a grass that comes in two forms, running and clumping. The running bamboo is the more aggressive that will seek to spread out as far as it can but this can easily be controlled with a thin plastic barrier dug about 28in into the ground. The new shoots only grow once a year so catching the ones that would spread too far is only a once a year task. Clumping bamboo as it name indicates will only spread a few inches a year until it reaches its maximum size, no barrier is required for this kind.

Clumping

Running

Barrier

5.Does the shoot continue to grow year after year? If the bamboo is 5in in diameter it will come out of the ground 5in in diameter. 2.Can you bend and weave live Moso? Once its reached its full height in the Moso is one of the hardiest bamboo spring it will no longer grow. species and always grows relatively straight. For bamboo to be used in 6.How long before it can be used in construction it has to be cut and dried if construction? not it will loose its strength and rot. A culm must be fully mature before it is 3.Is it a tree or plant? Bamboo is actually a grass. It is just like the grass that is in your lawn except it grows much taller. 4.Why does it grow so fast? Because it is a grass. Picture a bamboo rhizome like a deck of cards. Before the bamboo shoots up all the rings are already in place, and it just unfolds like a deck of cards. It gains energy to grow from the entire grove since they are all connected.

cut and used for construction. It needs to be harvested between years 4-7. If it matures for more than 7 years, the bamboo becomes susceptible to fungi and begins to deteriorate.

Fiber network density change over the years Walter Liese, Ph.D., University of Hamburgâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Institute of Wood Biology http://www.bamboohq.com/planting-care-info/

7.What is meant by bamboo being a clone from another grove? If bamboo is propagated from a rhizome it will be considered cloning. The reason is because it will have the same “DNA” as the grove it came from. To understand this we must understand the seed and how a bamboo grove works. Once a bamboo seed is planted all subsequent bamboo shoots that come up will be connected to the first one. Think of it as an underground tree, with the visible bamboo being the branches and the rhizome system the trunk. It is all connected. So when a rhizome “branch” from the grove is dug up and planted somewhere else its DNA is still from the original grove it came from. This is important because once a bamboo seed (in this project moso) is planted the flowering cycle begins. Since moso is on a mass flowering cycle all bamboo that was grown from that seed will flower at the same time regardless of geographic location. So if a rhizome was taken and planted from a grove that was 60 years old it would only have about 7 years before its flowering cycle would start even though that grove is only 7 years old. What matters is the seed it came from.

Culms dying after flowering

8.Why does Moso die after flowering? The scientific reason for why it dies it still unknown. One possible reason is that it takes all the groves energy to produce flowers which causes it to die. Another is that the grove sacrifices itself so that the ground is fertile for the new seeds to grow. Not all species of bamboo die after flowering.

Bamboo flowers

Bamboo seeds Common Questions

“Moso” Bamboo Phyllostachys Pubescens “Moso”, “Mao Zhu” Height: 21m (70ft) Diameter: 17cm (7in) Moso is the largest of the hardy bamboos that grow in a temperate climate. The common name “Moso” is a Japanese interpretation from the Chinese name “Mao Zhu”, which translated means “Hairy Bamboo”. This is because the new shoots are covered with soft, velvety hairs, that provide protection from insect predation. A mature Moso grove can reach heights of up to 70ft with the canopy starting between 30 and 40ft above the base. Moso Bamboo Shoot Although this species is native to Asia, it was imported to the United states in the early 1900s. I visited the Bamboo Gardens of La, in Mount Hermon, La which has some of the largest Moso groves in the United States. Here I learned that when Moso was first imported it came to Louisiana and South Carolina. One of these groves is located in Avery Island, La. Established in 1910 by E. A. McIllhenny it is one of the largest groves in the United States.

Moso Bamboo in Mount Hermon

5ft @ year 1 18

Moso bamboo in Avery Island, La

“Moso” Bamboo Unlike some smaller species of bamboo which can be invasive, the Moso bamboo can be described as a gentle giant. It will not grow in areas that area heavily trafficked, with poor soil conditions, or with too much water. It will only reach its maximum size if there is ample room for growth, the soil is fertile, and it receives the proper amount of water. Moso bamboo is also on a mass flowering cycle causing it to flower infrequently. The average cycle for Moso groves is every 67 years. After the flowering cycle has completed, the entire grove which came from a particular seed will die within the next few years regardless of geographic location.

Moso bamboo in Avery Island, La

65ft @ year 16 “Moso” Bamboo

Growth Rate of Bamboo These photos are from the Lewis Bamboo nursery in Oakman, Alabama. They track the growth of a Moso shoot for 18 days. It grows from 6 inches to 22 feet in this short time period.

April 2 (6in)

April 6 (16in)

April 9 (2ft)

April 12 (3ft)

April 13 (6ft)

April 20 (22ft)

22ft in 18 days Growth Rate of Bamboo

Sagano Bamboo Forest in Arashiyama, Japan

Garden Description I did some precedent studies looking at the french, British, mughal, and cloister gardens as well as some labyrinths. Among those studied were the Stourhead Garden, Serpentine Pavilion, the Benedictine monastery of SaintMichael-de-Cuxa, Garden of Versailles, Loire Valley, Taj Mahal, Rashtapati, Pavilion de Galon, and the Hedge Maze in New Harmony, IN. One common thread through all of these gardens is there horizontal orientation. Also they were planted with specific geometric patterns in mind often for the user to experience a sense of enlightenment as he traveled on the path. For theological reasons, a nondenominational protestant church would not require an enlightenment path. The focus of this garden will be to have places of solitude, gathering areas for communal prayer, defined pathways for circulation on the site, and for it to function as a natural air conditioner.

Garden Description

Small Bamboo Examples

Green School, Bali - PT Bamboo

Church in Colombia, Sim贸n V茅lez

Bridge by Sim贸n V茅lez

Large Bamboo Examples

Small and Large Bamboo Examples

Bamboo House by Tonji University in Shanghai

ROWEU architecture

Composite Examples

Traditional Technique

Hamura Shoei Yoh

Composite technique using concrete and steel â&#x20AC;&#x201C; German Architect Markus Heindorff

Building Techniques

Composite Examples and Building Techniques

FACTORY

Bamboo Factory The requirements for a bamboo factory include a drying area, a processing area, and an area for storage. Bamboo is to be harvested in the fall or the winter. The poles need to be immersed in water for a period of 4-12 weeks. During this time the nourishment for insects inside the poles is removed. Another process is to heat the poles in a kiln for a short time at 150 degrees Celsius or boil them for about 25 minutes. The poles will then have to dry for 6-12 weeks while being stored under a shed. If a kiln is being used, this drying process can be done between 2-3 weeks. If bamboo is heated and bent after it is freshly cut it will maintain the shape. After the bamboo has flowered, it can no longer be harvested for structural purposes.

Drying Bamboo

Processing Bamboo

Bamboo Factory

CHURCH

Vertical or Horizontal The early church met in small living rooms during the first few centuries, and it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t until after Constantine came into power that enormous cathedrals started being built. The goal with the design of these cathedrals was to create a sense of awe and reverence towards God, which was accomplished through the verticality of the space and the ornate decor. Creating this type of atmosphere through architecture is not inherently wrong, however, it can distance a person from God by making them feel belittled, or by making it seem like He is unattainable or unapproachable. These spaces made speech difficult to understand because of the reverberation throughout the room. Though they were not appropriate for verbal speaking acoustics, they had excellent musical acoustics. The services were often in a language that the people could not understand, but the sound of voices created a reverent atmosphere. This form of worship, although not the only form, was predominant in Christianity for many centuries. In America during the 18th century, the form of worship began to change.

Instead of meeting in large assembly areas, the Quakers began meeting in small houses that would accommodate around 120 people. People were able to read their own bibles, be able to understand what the minister was saying, and interact with one another. So there was a shift in churches to be more like a theatre where people could sit and listen to another speak. The church changed in shape and size to accommodate the need for people to understand and have a close visual connection to the person speaking. By the 20th century, nondenominational protestant churches had become so enamored with the visual and auditory connection with the speaker that the church could also have doubled as an event space. The churches had changed from a vertical orientation to a horizontal one. So instead of trying to make a reference upwards toward God the space made people reference each other. This comes in stark contrast to creating a reverent space of worship. But is this too far? Creating a space that would make a person feel as comfortable in church as they would in a Starbucks coffee shop, convention center, or a theatre minimizes the reverence for a place of worship. There must be a middle ground somewhere between the traditional cathedral style and the modern Protestant style

Vertical

Horizontal

The two contemporary churches above were placed side by side, matching their horizon line, to analyze the difference between a vertical and horizontal space. Although the image on the left is contemporary it still has the feel of a Gothic cathedral. So I did a series changes to the image on the left to see what gives it a different â&#x20AC;&#x153;feelâ&#x20AC;? than the image on the right, which is what the typical interior of a non-denominational protestant church looks like.

Vertical or Horizontal

The altar and stained glass are removed. By doing this the space starts to loose religious significance.

A low ceiling is added which compresses the space. Even with this low ceiling the arches along the wall still make the space appear to be reaching vertically.

Lights, similar to the image on the left, along with a band are added to what was the altar area. This is not an architectural change but it changes the perception of how the space should be used.

The image above is not what this project is striving to achieve but it is important to realize what people are expecting to see when they come to church. I showed this comparison to a child from my church, just for fun to see what she would say, and she liked the image on the right better because it had big screens. Today a child growing up in a nondenominational protestant church expects to see audio and visual technology similar to what they would encounter in a theatre or convention center. The church however, should not be a place where you come to simply be entertained, but to worship God.

Vertical or Horizontal

Form Study Some of the shapes that were used throughout the years were the rectangle, square, round, amphitheater, stadium, diamond, and the trapezoid. These varied in effectiveness depending on the size of the congregation.

St. Patrick Cathedral NY 1878 James Renwic Form Study

Square

Sandown Meetinghouse NH 1773

Round

Broadway Tabernacle NY

Form Study

Amphitheater

Union Park Congregational IL 1869

Stadium

Moody Memorial Church

Form Study

Diamond

Crystal Cathedral CA Philip Johnson

Trapezoid

Willow Creek Community IL

Form Study

Church + Nature So what should a reverent place of worship look like? This question led me to research some chapels that have a quality of reverence to them, but are not massive, and are built to fit in to their surroundings. The Thorncrown Chapel by E. Fay Jones located in Eureka Springs, Arkansas is one example of a reverent space built to fit in with its surroundings. This chapel already had a natural landscape around it. The chapel is mainly built out of wood and glass and is composed of structural elements that are no larger than what two men could carry. This chapel is an example of how a reverent space can be made within an existing landscape without disturbing it and can still provide the essentials needed for a worship service.

Thorncrown Chapel

Church + Nature Another similar example is the Wayfarers Chapel by Frank Lloyd Wright Jr. located near Long Beach California. This chapel is also mainly built out of wood and glass but the difference here is that there the site was relatively empty upon construction. Redwood trees were planted next to the building so that over time the chapel would be contained by the trees. So in this case, the natural environment around the chapel was also created.

Wafayers Chapel shortly after completion

Wafayers Chapel today

Wayfarers Chapel

Form Destruction After analyzing many different church types and forms I came to the conclusion that the current church has to be disestablished. I diagramed this process by taking a styrofoam cube and penetrating it with sticks. I gave myself a process by witch it had to be done. I could only move four sticks at a time,and a stick had to alternate touching and not 1 touching the grown. Through a series of photographs I captured the decimation of the cube as the primary object and structure. By the end of the photo series the sticks become the prominent structure by which order is established.

48 After a total of 48 moves the cube has lost its prominence

Close up images of final product

Model Studies

Compression + Expansion I also did a model study to see some possibilities of compressive and expansive spaces using a tectonic materials. This was done to study the different spacial characteristics that a space built with moso bamboo may have.

Disestablishing Diagram These models depict the disestablishment of the current church and the reestablishment of the new. An idea with these models was that the some of the material from the old church gets used as cladding on the new church. Also an idea of the new church growing out of the old to reinforce leaving behind the old cycle of church.

Compression + Expansion

SITE

Site Selection As mentioned in the introduction the site required underdeveloped land, an existing church, and a community to support it so that the entire site could be reworked towards a new model of sustainability. The site selected is located in Central, LA about a 30 minute drive from LSU. There are about 40 churches in Central with protestant Christian churches being the most predominant. The existing church is on HWY 64 which runs eastwest as it connects to three other major north-south hyws becoming a common traveling path for those living in the surrounding cities. The existing church sits on about 7.7 acres of land but is only using about 0.7 of those acres. The rest of the land is mainly grass that requires constant up keeping.

7.7 acres

existing church

Site Selection

Site Analysis This sectional study was meant to investigate topographical changes, elevational relationships, and the relationship of the site to its surroundings. The topography of the site for the most part is flat. There is a small change in topography towards the back of the northeast corner which is sites the drainage pattern.

PLANTING + GROWING SUSTAINABLE CHURCHES SITE SECTIONS Central, LA 1/32” = 1’-0”

Site Analysis

Year 0 - Existing site conditions

Year 1 - 15ft bamboo is planted 25 feet apart throughout the site. The parking lot changes location to allow people to experience the bamboo grove from the beginning phase of the project.

Site Plan Evolution Study

Year 6 - 35ft bamboo is growing. The prayer walks, amphitheater, factory/ storage all begin to have their locations established. By this time the grove is at a medium density with the capability of harvesting 20ft poles.

This study was done to see if the initial planting would have an effect on how the bamboo grove looks later years later. The conclusion is that the bamboo will spread as far as it can at a light density then begin to get more dense and the initial planting pattern will be lost. Also at this point in the project an amphitheater was going to be part of the church. That was later found to be unnecessary because the church building will function as both an indoor and outdoor facility.

Years Bamboo Height/Harvest 60

15ft

35ft/20ft

Year 13 - Transitional period begins in that the church meets in the amphitheater when possible. An outdoor cafĂŠ are is established. Potential to harvest 55ft poles. Grove at high density. Year 20 - The new church is established and the old church becomes the bamboo factory. Potential now to harvest between 65-70ft poles. Grove is at a high density.

Year 9 - 50ft bamboo is growing. New meeting place is established inside the grove. Potential to harvest 35ft poles. Grove at med-high density.

0ft/35ft 50ft/35ft

Year 20 -70ft bamboo is growing

Year 13 - 55 ft bamboo is growing

50ft/35ft

70ft/50ft 70ft/50ft 70ft/50ft maximum maximum maximum height reached height reached height reached

The grove will continue to produce new shoots every spring. It will only stop once the bamboo starts to flower. Then then bamboo grove will die within the next couple years and it can no longer be used as a construction material. The flowers produce seeds which will restart the bamboo growth cycle, however this time the grove will reach it full height quicker.

20 ~50 to~50 67 to 67

~50 to

70ft/ harvest 70ft/ harvest 70ft/Grove harvest Dies Grove and Dies and Grove 70ft for 70ft the for next the next 70ft for begins the next begins again again begins 50 years 50 years 50 years Site Plan Evolution Study 61

Grid for Site design The grid for the site design was based on three things. The field of view from a car as they drive by the site both from the east and the west (those are the red diagonal line. The dashed red lines are where the view has been obstructed). The distance from the road required for the garden need to be an effective sound barrier (orange lines). The spacing necessary to enter and harvest the grove (blue lines). An initial site plan was laid out without the design of the church facility. This was done first because initial approach to the building is the first experience of the new church system.

Final Site Design The final site plan design was done with a specific experience in mind. The experience is depicted in the renderings of the project. First is a visual experience of the site by car. Coming from the east you have a glimpse towards the church down a long narrow path. From the west a large part of the moso is cut out and golden golden bamboo, which is yellow and shorter than moso, is planted with will be a starch visual difference.

Section B

6 9 4

Then the drive to the church is where the bamboo grove is first experienced.

Section A

After parking you will walk down a narrower path through the bamboo grove to the church.

Then subsequently will be allowed to go on smaller paths which lead to individual and communal prayer areas.

Program 11

1. FELLOWSHIP HALL 2. CHILDRENS ROOM 3. YOUTH ROOM 4. SANCTUARY 5. LOBBY 6. NURSERY 7. TODLER ROOM 8. SOUND ROOM 9.CLASS ROOM 10. OFFICE / STORAGE 11. FACTORY / STORAGE 12. PRAYER PATH 13. INDIVIDUAL PRAYER AREA 14. COMMUNAL PRAYER AREA 15. HARVEST PATH

Sanctuary (300) Youth Room (100) Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Room Toddler Room Nursery Cafe/ Fellowship Room Rest rooms Office 4x Storage Parking

6,000 sf. 2,000 sf. 1,200 sf. 600 sf. 400 sf.

Total:

15,000 sf.

2,400 sf. 600 sf. 800 sf. 500 sf.

Grid and Final Site Design

Church Section The building section below is through the main sanctuary area. The clearstory above the altar area is meant to bring light down on the speaker. Large windows allow for a constant visual connection to nature. The roof bends inwards to the sanctuary area to compress the space. A large clearstory is also in the lobby area of the church so allow for able lighting.

Youth + Children Section The building section below is through the Youth sanctuary and the childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s church/fellowship hall. With an eastwest orientation maximum daylighting is achieved through the use of clearstory windows.

Both of these sections are preliminary designs which are not reflected in the renderings. Building Sections

Final Model Photographs

Initial Approach Coming from the east you have a glimpse towards the church down a long narrow path. This pathway is a result of studying the cone of view a person has as they drive by the site.

Perspectives

Drive Through Grove Then the drive to the church is where the bamboo grove is first experienced. The sketch to the left is the where the design began. Depicted here is the idea that one does not have to go far separate oneself and get into the grove. The site design is used to shield view and also to give glimpses toward what is ahead.

Perspectives

Approach to the Church After parking you will walk down a narrower path through the bamboo grove to the church. This sketch was part of the initial idea from the site evolution study. Since the parking lot was moved making people walk though the grove to the existing church the same experience was kept approaching the new church.

Communal Prayer Area The smaller paths lead to individual and communal prayer areas. In the sketch below the communal prayer areas have a small structure in them. These small structures could still be used however the bamboo canopy will shield most of the rain.

Church Design The church design is a simple wood structure. The bamboo poles offer an enclosed space for what will eventually become the church facility. The overall design of the church has not been fully fleshed out, but it is part of what I would like to continue designing next semester.

Conclusion All of the research and design done thus far has put me in a place to continue exploring my thesis into the next semester. I plan to conduct further studies regarding the bamboo factory, and they will likely influence my site design strategies. As I research the construction details and formal qualities of bamboo, I will better understand how the building can be constructed with this organic material. Knowing more about how bamboo connections are made and the realities of what bamboo can do as a construction material will help aid in the design process. Being that my thesis is about a process that will ultimately give to the community, I plan to explore this concept further. Small scale products as shown on page 24 as well as homes will be designed for the community. The exploration of design possibilities for the homes will also help in the design of the church, and the construction details of each will inform one another and will result in a more comprehensive design for both buildings. The symbiotic relationship between these two parts of the project creates a church that will be a producer rather than just a consumer.

Church Design + Conclusion

References IDENTIFICATION, SELECTION, and USE of SOUTHERN PLANTS for Landscape Design Building with Bamboo, Gernot Mike When Church Became Theatre by Jeanne Halgren KIlde From Meetinghouse to Megachurch by Loveland and Wheeler http://www.bamboogardensla.com http://www.lewisbamboo.com/growth-chart.html http://www.bamboofarmingusa.com/Number-of-Plants.html http://www.thorncrown.com/architecture.html http://www.wayfarerschapel.org http://www.bamboo.org/BambooSourceList/

References