ArchInspire #030: Church Case Studies

Been on a long hiatus since the dawn of my thesis semester. I'm making a come-back with these images of church architecture case studies I included in the book. Enjoy <sarcastic and indifferent tone>. I intended for it to be a comparative analysis, unfortunately I may have fell short in establishing the definitive criteria to do so. I've been reflecting on the words Kuya Red left in my previous blog entry. There's still so much to revise and consider. What a burden! What a necessary burden! *sighs*

Joong-Ang Catholic Church

Anyang, Gyeongi-do, Republic of South Korea

Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cloister and Church

Jeongreung-do, Seoul, Republic of South Korea

Saint Alphonsus Mary di Liguori Parish (Magallanes Church)

Magallanes Village, Makati City, Republic of the Philippines

Basilica Minore de San Sebastian

Quiapo, Manila, Republic of the Philippines

Abbaye de Fontenay

Burgundy, France

San Agustin Church (Paoay Church)

Paoay, Ilocos Norte, Republic of the Philippines

Sources:
The Master Architect Series VI Kim Young-Sub +Kunchook-Moonhwa Architect Associates – Selected and Current Works (Australia: The Images Publishing Group, 2003) and BluPrint – The Design Sourcebook, Vol. 3/2010 (Pasig: Mega Publishing Group, 2010)

Shorts: Japanese Catholics and Vocation

• Been snooping around the history of Japanese Catholicism online and found this cool site about the Daughters of St. Paul religious congregation in Japan. It's nice and refreshing to read their humble and simple albeit brief vocation stories here. It made me think as well if I am rather called to a monastic contemplative way of life (in the Contemplative Disciples of the Beatitudes) in contrast with the active missionary pursuit (of the Missionaries of the Beatitudes) I've always been looking forward to. 
• I am having second thoughts whether to include Kenzo Tange's famous St. Mary's Cathedral (Tokyo) for my list of foreign case studies. It is one of those Catholic churches that exhibits a rather radical approach in form and materials used. Though modern and minimalistic at a first glance, something's telling me to have a second look. Perhaps there are elements in this development that needs to be dissected properly in order to be understood fully. 

 

Images borrowed here

• Check out this cool site: My Architectural Moleskin which is chock full of case studies on varied architectural developments :) What I love in this site is how he includes the background of the project itself and the keen commentaries and images included :)

Case Study: Malacanang of the North, Ilocos Norte

This is the part 2 of my recent trip to Ilocos Norte. If you haven't read the other case study regarding Plaza del Norte Hotel, click here. 

Neighboring the hotel development that we stayed for three days was this mansion-turned-museum that cradled another strand of history serving as a reminder of the Philippines' not-so-distant past - the reign of the infamous Former President Ferdinand Marcos that wielded power during Martial Law, ending with his ouster with the EDSA People Power Revolution in 1986 - the Malacanang of the North. 

"Malacanang ti Amianan" is the other term used by Ilocanos to describe Malacañang of the North. This is the official residence of the former President Ferdinand Marcos in Ilocos Norte, built on a high point of land projecting into the sea right beyond the coastline of the legendary Paoay Lake, this enduring structure is now a museum. It was designed to resemble a 19th Century “bahay na bato” with a mixture of Spanish and Ilocano interior designs. Complete with 9 spacious rooms which was used to accommodate upper class guests during Marcos’ term, 2 living and dining areas, a spacious ballroom on the second floor, and verandas for both the ground and second floor facing the Paoay lake. They even had an olympic size swimming pool but is now left unused. 

Despite the lapse of time, there is still a lot of impressive beauty one can find in this structure worn-out throughout the years - an aesthetic that maybe not even as close resembling the beauty and purpose it served and inspired back when it was still used as originally intended. It is only with an eye for detail that one one can see through this perspective of beauty. Photos take by Yours Truly :)

 

Case Study: Plaza del Norte, Ilocos Norte

As promised in my last post, I will be uploading for the next few days pictures of my recent trip to Ilocos Norte. It was not as special as the one I had two years ago which focused on the perspective of Spanish Colonial influences in the Philippine building design and heritage; nevertheless it became almost too nostalgic for me since a lot in our itinerary for that weekend trip was a familiar destination. Too bad that I only got to visit two churches :|

Moreover, am afraid that the trip we made (which was given as a gift) was more of political (fellowship-camaraderie-blah) in nature rather than the more reflective manner which one should have to appreciate the provincial beauty of Ilocos.

Anyways, the grueling 12-hour trip to the province was wiped away once I laid my eyes on the place we are to occupy for the next two nights. The architecture student in me churned as I feasted my eyes with the beautiful natural hills surrounding the master development. The style guiding principles and elements employed in the development was typical of the character of the buildings in the region; this is to preserve the continuity in the aesthetics of the old buildings in the region while giving it a modern twist worthy of luxury :)

Plaza del Norte (former Ilocos Norte Hotel and Convention Center) brings together the Spanish-style charm and grandeur of Ilocos with the modern design of today in its world-class amenities. The hotel features a chapel for private weddings, sprawling gardens for outdoor events, a swimming pool, hotel function room and in-room massage services. The property promises to appeal to business travelers because of its extensive facilities that are ideal for such functions and meetings. 

The location of the hotel promisesn ideal getaway for the leisure tourist because of its proximity to many historical and unique attractions such as Spanish colonial buildings, Malacanang of the North, Paoay Lake, Sand Dunes, white sand beaches of Pagudpud, Marcos-era mansions and the historical Paoay Church, considered a UNESCO heritage site.

Photos taken by Yours Truly :) For more information, check out their website here. Click another of my case study regarding Malacanang of the North here.