THORNCROWN CHAPEL - A Paragon of Environmental Design
by Jorge Chapa
While walking through the woods near Eureka Springs, Arkansas, one might be forgiven to mistake Thorncrown Chapel for a grove of trees in the middle of the forest. The transparent glazed facade, combined with the timber trusses, create the appearance of a grand forest rather than a carefully constructed chapel. It is only when one is inside the chapel that one starts appreciating the small details that set it apart as a paragon of architectural achievement: the steel joints on the trusses, the lanterns, the reflection of the glass, and finally the steel roof.
With all the contemporary emphasis on modern sustainable architecture, sometimes we seem to forget that environmentally friendly architecture has existed for a long time. Built in 1980, Thorncrown Chapel was created with the idea of highlighting the natural setting, which was, and still is, an attractive natural setting for tourists in the area. The owner of the site, Jim Reed, hired well known architect, Frank Lloyd Wright alumni E. Fay Jones to design and build the site which used native timber to match the setting around it, and the result was a fantastic expression of architecture that was awarded the “Twenty-Five year award” by the American Institute of Architects.
Besides it’s spectacular architecture, what else can we learn from Thorncrown Chapel? What does a building which was created close to 30 years ago have to show us? Well, for starters, it shows us how proper planning can be done in order to disturb the site as little as possible. To make it possible for the chapel to be built without disturbing the natural environment around it, the vertical and diagonal cross-tension trusses were made from local pine sources and cut to size so that they could be carried through the woods. The selection of materials was also an important consideration- all the timber came from local sources (this was before FSC stewardship and the like), the floor is made out of flagstone, and lined with a rock wall, linking it with its surrounding environment.
Beyond any doubt however, the most important feature lies in how the building completely blends into its surroundings. The completely glazed facade turns what could be a rather heavy object in the middle of the forest into a light and sometimes invisible structure. From within, the transparent facade allows for the visitor to experience the forest while being inside the building. Indeed, what remains remarkable about this building is how every experience is different from the next, as the changes in the weather, and in the surrounding forest will change how the building is perceived. Meanwhile, during the night, the illuminated interior provides a sharp contrast to the darkened areas of the forest, with the glazing providing an almost infinite and ghostly reflection, creating a perception of an infinite expansion of the building into the forest.
+ Thorncrown Chapel
+ Thorncrown Chapel Wins AIA 2006 Twenty-five Year Award
+ Thorncrown Chapel @ Wikipedia
+ Thorncrown Chapel @ Great Buildings Online
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Amazing. What a church should be.