LIGHT

You have been selected to design a proposed non-denominational chapel located on the campus of Farmingdale State College. The College wants this to be a profoundly spiritual place that people of all faiths can worship and reflect on life’s events. The College believes this can be achieved by the creative use of light. The College has outlined a preliminary program that is listed below. A site has yet to selected on campus; the College is looking for guidance from the Architect. The building should be integrated into the fabric of the campus and be on the public square. The College explicitly requests the design not be symmetrical.

I. Background Information

The Notre Dame du Haut is a small chapel in Ronchamp, France, and was completed by Le Corbusier in 1954. It is considered to be one of the most important buildings of the 20th century.

The Notre Dame du Haut is considered one of the most important buildings of the 20th century. Le Corbusier displays a main structures that consists of thick masonry walls, which are curved to improve stability and provide structural support.

II. Light Component

Le Corbusier has been able to utilize the light of the sun in a very articulate way. He expresses the constant movement of the sun in the Ronchamp chapel. In doing so he creates different spaces with in spaces.

II. Sketches

This were the original drawings of the Ronchamp chapel. They are used today to demonstrates and emphasize the importance of light.

Narrative

When is comes to designing this non-denomination chapel, my main focus is to ensure the unity between the other buildings on the Farmingdale State College campus and this chapel.

This building is composed of three chapels:

The Main Sanctuary

The Meditation Chapel - (small - looking forward on life's choices)

The Memorial Chapel - (small - looking back on loss and regret)

Along with the chapels will other secular spaces such as offices, bathrooms and storage rooms. I will present the three chapels further down.

Hierarchy

Main Sanctuary

Meditation Chapel

Memorial Chapel

Secular Spaces

Hierarchy by SIZE

Tallest ceilings

Hierarchy by GEOMETRY

Dome top

Hierarchy by PLACEMENT

Sun angles & unity

Sorting Of Spaces

Sacred:

Main Sanctuary

Meditation Chapel

Memorial Chapel

Lobby

Secular:

Offices

Conference Rooms

Library

Storage Room

Toilets

Closets

Contextual Analysis

Circulation

Function

Height

Spaces

Sun Angles

Winter

Fall

Summer

Spring

Site Selection

Each of the chapels shown in this diagram was taken into consideration when it comes to the path of light. The memorial chapel, from the East, will experience the rising of the sunlight. The Main Chapel, located in the middle, was designed to follow the suns path throughout the day. The Meditation Chapel was placed on the West side to experience the setting of the sun paths.

PRELIMINARY IDEAS & DIAGRAMS

2D Section Light Diagrams