To many, religion represents traditional stasis, but for centuries religion was the driver behind artistic advances, and the Santa Maria Assumpta church in Tarragona, Spain, is an example of just that. The church has a distinctly modern design, with a blocked, angular shape covered in concrete and printed with a herringbone pattern.
Santa Maria Assumpta's herringbone facade is ideal for the structure's shape. Because the church's walls diverge from one another at irregular angles, the simple zigzag cuts emblazoned onto the slabs appear to take on different qualities no matter where one stands around the outside of the building.
The parish center surrounding the church also has a variable facade, as the ell-shaped building is covered in tightly spaced aluminum louvres that limit the ability to see inside.
Herringbone Concrete Churches
The Church of Santa Maria Assumpta has a Modern Design
Trend Themes
1. Modern Church Design - Opportunity for architects and designers to explore newer, more innovative designs and materials for religious structures.
2. Herringbone Pattern Facades - The herringbone pattern presents a new trend for exterior facades in modern architecture and construction.
3. Variable Facades - Flexible facades that react differently from various angles open an opportunity for creative architectural expression and experimentation.
Industry Implications
1. Architecture - Innovative church designs using new materials and creative patterns will present opportunities to architects and designers.
2. Construction - New facade patterns and designs offer opportunities for innovative construction and building techniques.
3. Religious Facilities - Innovative and modern religious structures can offer a way to attract new worshippers and reinvent religious communities.