ALPHAVILLE / Catholic Suzuka Church

ALPHAVILLE / Catholic Suzuka Church

[caption id="attachment_854" align="aligncenter" width="1500"] © Toshiyuki Yano[/caption]

From the architect. Responding to a dramatic growth in the foreign Catholic community in Suzuka, a new religious space is needed not only for worships but also social interactions. The Catholic Suzuka Church, presented by the Alphaville Architects, is an integration of multiple functions including a chapel, a community hall and residences for priests. Located in Suzuka, where the HONDA motor industry bases, the presented project is sitting on the cross junction of two major streets, with one being a newly built motorway and the remaining one being an ancient road connecting Tokyo and Osaka since Edo period.

[caption id="attachment_855" align="aligncenter" width="1500"] © Toshiyuki Yano[/caption]

The project features an expressive roof which wraps up all the functional spaces. It is shaped as multiple diagonal arches overlapping each other with gaps. This was inspired by the stunning mountain scape surrounding the city, and reminds citizens of the natural elegance.

[caption id="attachment_856" align="aligncenter" width="1500"] © Toshiyuki Yano[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_857" align="aligncenter" width="1500"] © Toshiyuki Yano[/caption]

To handle crowds on Sundays, the whole volume is lifted to maximize the car parking space underneath without shrinking the other functional areas. The roof is split into pieces every five meters – referring to the parking lot module – for skylights to introduce the southern natural light to the interiors. Connected by two gently inclined staircases, the pilotis and the entrance lobbies on the second floor define a plaza for social events and buffering from the heavily motorized city.

[caption id="attachment_858" align="aligncenter" width="1415"] Section[/caption]

Referring to the “Nori’s figure/ground theory”, the lobby is designed as an extension of the city pathways, manipulating relationships among the “inside-out” spaces converging at the church that allow easy approaches.

[caption id="attachment_859" align="aligncenter" width="1500"] © Toshiyuki Yano[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_860" align="aligncenter" width="1333"] Structural Diagram[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_861" align="aligncenter" width="1500"] © Toshiyuki Yano[/caption]

With its lively gesture, this project surpasses precedents with enhanced accessibility, translating worships into daily-life philosophy and bridges mankind to the holy with falls of natural light.

[caption id="attachment_864" align="aligncenter" width="1333"] Site Plan[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_865" align="aligncenter" width="1333"] Plan[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_866" align="aligncenter" width="1414"] Sections[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_867" align="aligncenter" width="1333"] Axonometric[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_868" align="aligncenter" width="1333"] Detail[/caption]

 

• 
  

  Architects

  
  
  ALPHAVILLE


• 
  

  Location

  
  
  Mie Prefecture, Japan


• 
  

  Architects in Charge

  
  
  Kentaro Takeguchi, Asako Yamamoto


• 
  

  Area

  
  
  1588.85 m2


• 
  

  Project Year

  
  
  2015


• 
  

  Photographs

  
  
  Toshiyuki Yano


• 
  

  Manufacturers

  
  
  Lixil Corporation, Panasonic, Toto, Daiko, JFE Galvanizing & Coating, Sanwacompany

[Google_Maps_WD id=24 map=13]