2012 Design Awards
Cathedral of Hope Interfaith Peace Chapel by Lawrence Connolly, AIA Project Cathedral of Hope Interfaith Peace Chapel, Dallas Client Cathedral of Hope Architect Philip Johnson; Alan Ritchie Architects with Cunningham Architects Design team Philip Johnson, FAIA; Rizi Faruqui, AIA; Alan Ritchie, AIA; Gary Cunningham, FAIA; Tom Dohearty, AIA; John Manley, AIA; Michael Bessner; Erin Keith; Matthew Barrett Contractor Structure Tone Southwest Consultants Thornton Tomasetti (structural/connection design/modeling); URS Corporation (civil); The Office of James Burnett (landscape); ARS Accessibility Resource Specialists (accessibility); Pamela Hull Wilson (lighting) Photographers James Wilson; Michael Palumbo; Cunningham Architects
“We have architecture now that pulls and bends around you — like your body — no right angles, no straight lines,” Philip Johnson proclaimed in 1996 at his 90th birthday celebration. In that announcement he was providing a clue what the Interfaith Peace Chapel (IPC) would look like when it was built 14 years later.
A
s the dynamic second phase of an ambitious masterplan, the chapel resembles clumps of milk-white Jello that have been jiggled and huddled together on a bed of lettuce. A derivative of several previous projects, the IPC has three hierarchal components that lean into each other to form a step stool ascending from the vestibule to the chapel and its 40-fttall apse. The design awards jurors commented on the chapel’s beautiful sculptural qualities — “almost chrysalis-like in its form,” in the words of James Timberlake, FAIA. As such, there is no main façade or clear entrance to the 8,000-sf religious structure. The non-denominational chapel is void of religious imagery except for the speculation that the floor plan was configured to resemble a fish. Currently used for small services, the building is an open flexible area that can seat up to 200. The support spaces are located in the basement that echoes the footprint above.
9/10 2012
Texas Architect 39