a+u

a+u’s May issue offers a retrospective on sacred spaces from its archives – significant projects that have helped to shape the discourse on fostering transcendent experiences through architecture. Each of the spaces presented not only provides a space for worship, but also conveys innovative architectural approaches to express sacredness. Projects such as Bagsvard Church by Jorn Utzon align humanity with nature, whereas a project such as Seema Malaka by Geoffery Bawa draws on traditional architectural language to create connections to both nature and culture. In addition to the retrospective, this issue contrasts various ways a work of architecture can nurture a relationship with a higher force, from Lina Bo Bardi’s community-oriented Church of the Holy Spirit of Cerrado, to the more introverted and quiet sensibility seen in Christian Kerez’s Oberrealta Chapel. Finally, this issue extends the architectural archive by highlighting new spaces of contemplation, such as Cobar Sound Chapel by Glenn Murcutt and Motorway Chapel by Herzog & de Meuron, projects that reflect the significance of sound as well as vision in the human experience. 



Dialogue:
In Conversation with Erwin Viray

Herzog & de Meuron
Motorway Chapel

Glenn Murcutt and Georges Lentz
Cobar Sound Chapel

Mario Botta
Church of Our Lady of the Rosary

Hariri Pontarini Architects
Bahá’í Temple of South America

Tadao Ando Architect & Associates
Hill of the Buddha

John Pawson
Saint Moritz Church

K2S Architects
Kamppi Chapel

John Pawson
Abbey of Our Lady of Nový Dvůr

Mecanoo
Saint Mary of the Angels Chapel

Steven Holl Architects
Chapel of Saint Ignatius

Álvaro Siza Vieira
Santa Maria Church of Canaveses

Mario Botta
Chapel of Saint Mary of the Angels

Oscar Niemeyer
Military Cathedral of Saint Mary Queen of Peace

Ricardo Legorreta
Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of Mary

Christian Kerez
Oberrealta Chapel

Lina Bo Bardi
Church of the Holy Spirit of Cerrado

Geoffery Bawa
Seema Malaka Temple

Jorn Utzon
Bagsvard Church

Gottfriend Böhm
The Pilgrimage Church

Gio Ponti
Church of San Francesco
Church of San Carlo Hospital