Comments on: THORNCROWN CHAPEL – A Paragon of Environmental Design

By: Rabur0

Rabur0 — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 08:29:58 +0000

this is pretty cool i want it i want it i want it

By: carlsgurl08

carlsgurl08 — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:40:51 +0000

im getting married in november and i can’t wait…… its a very beautiful place!!!!!!

By: D.C. Infidel

D.C. Infidel — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 22:59:29 +0000

Or one might think, “There is no god, but there are great architects.”

By: David I, Emperor

David I, Emperor — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 01:27:56 +0000

A church, by its very design, should inspire awe. Even the infidel should think “How mighty this god must be, to have such a structure.”

This one succeds admirably.

By: sarah

sarah — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 19:15:19 +0000

There is another church like this called wayfares chapel in palos verdes, california

By: aQ

aQ — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 00:01:31 +0000

…me identifico mucho con la obra, creo que es de eso lo que se trata la vida, el llegar de una manera sencible al entorno que nos rodea… no requiero de la construccion de algo artificial para…: sentir…

By: Chad

Chad — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 21:31:10 +0000

Jones designed another beautiful chapter very similar in Fort Worth, TX. My wife and I were married there.

http://www.martyleonardchapel.org/architect.php

By: che-che

che-che — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 17:08:35 +0000

It is really a masterpiece…stunning even during the day…I’d love to spend some time in it, just seat and think…really beautiful.

By: Rose

Rose — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 14:17:51 +0000

I was married in this chapel and always dreamed of doing it since I first layed eyes on it. I’m from Missouri and Eureka Springs was a quick get-a-way location. The whole town is great and the chapel is just a treasure. The chapel is an awesome sight and what makes it even better when you visit it, is you don’t just pull up in a car and there it is. You have to walk on a winding path in the woods to get to it and then it just stands there in all its glory. I had researched the designer and being an interior designer myself, I found it to be a perfect fit for my wedding day. Unfortunately the times they offer for ceremonies are not forgiving, I chose 6 am for my ceremony and even though it was not what I thought to be ideal, I walked in while it was still dark outside and walked out with the sun.

By: Stacey Diehl

Stacey Diehl — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 22:06:47 +0000

This has to be the most stunning manmade object… I really need to see this at twilight.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 00:46:51 +0000

I have been fortunate to have visited Thorncrowne Chapel and the Mildred Cooper Chapel, and they are both stunning. While there are certainly similarities between the two, Thorncrowne comes across to me as being more simple, straightforward and slightly rustic, while the Cooper Memorial is more elegant and graceful, with Gothic undertones.
In keeping with the ideals of organic archtecture and respect for the environment and the building’s site, Fay Jones designed Thorncrowne Chapel in such a way that no materials were used in the construction that could not be carried into the site by more than two workmen. In this way, he was able to leave the surroundings of the building almost totally undisturbed, which adds to the impression one gets that the building literally grew up out of the earth. It is truly amazing to behold.

I have also been to Fay Jones offices in Fayetteville, Ark., from which his firm continues to operate to this day.

As far as the Wayfarer’s Chapel in Palos Verdes is concerned, it too is a spectacular effort that sit on an incredible site overlooking the Pacific. To the best of my knowledge, Frank Lloyd Wright had nothing to do with the design of this chapel, which was created entirely by his son, Lloyd Wright, who was a very accomplished southern California architect in his own right. And although Fay Jones may have been aware of the Wayfarer’s Chapel, which was built in the mid 1950’s I believe, I think it unfair to accuse Jones of copying it when he designed Thorncrowne Chapel.

By: 2human

2human — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 18:14:13 +0000

I am not familiar with the building, the architect, or the background. On seeing this beautiful chapel, however, I am surprised not to see more of an attribute to Lloyd Wright (the son of the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright), particularly of his “Wayfarer’s Chapel” located on the Palos Verdes Peninsula in Los Angeles, and built in the 1950s, I think. This particular chapel is indeed beautiful, but it is closer in concept and execution to Mr. Wright’s original design in California, even though it has been nicely copied and adapted for its current location.

I do not wish to disparage the architects beautiful product, I just think the original inspiration belongs to Frank Lloyd Wright, and to the way his son adapted and enhanced his sense of design, and I am surprised that they are not more fully credited in what I have read and see here.

By: Greg

Greg — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 05:27:08 +0000

Beautiful architecture. Too bad a great structure like this was wasted for worshipping imaginary friends.

By: rek

rek — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 05:06:58 +0000

Rachael – I don’t think of Arkansas as a foresty place, that’s all. I’m not American either, so don’t assume I have the same preconceptions about random states.

By: Geoff Cohen

Geoff Cohen — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 02:12:05 +0000

Amazing to see the way it blends into its environment which is often the opposite of the way a structure such as this is built. Rather than calling attention to the building, the restraint is remarkable and such a positive example of living within the world rather than imposing ourselves on it. It reminds me of a chapel in Sedona, the Chapel of the Holy Cross, designed by I believe a Wright disciple, that also fits in with its setting so stunningly.

I love Cat’s description of elves building this, though I see other small creatures from a Star Wars movie as the construction crew.