The University of Winchester's Winton Chapel was built in 1880 and last extended in 1927, so the academy felt that it was about time for an upgrade. Design Engine Architects was the firm tasked with that challenge, and the resultant addition indeed looks as though it was designed and built 90 years later.
While the original Winton Chapel building adheres to many of the stylistic traits of most churches and chapels, with vaulted arches, a high gable running the length of the nave, a tall steeple, and a white stone facade, Design Engine's addition couldn't be more different. It's facade is made of an aluminum grid, and there is a narrow window cut into the exterior wall in the shape of a cross, spilling bright light from the interior out and shaping a bluish crucifix when it's dark outside.
What's Driving This Trend
- Modern Church Upgrades
- Architectural firms can offer innovative solutions by juxtaposing contemporary elements with traditional church structures.
- Innovative Facade Materials
- Designers can explore non-traditional materials, such as aluminum, to create visually stunning and unique church additions.
- Symbolic Window Design
- Creating a symbolic window in non-traditional shapes can add a spiritual and artistic element to church facades.
Who This Affects Most
- Architecture
- Architectural firms can use innovative and unique design solutions to revamp traditional church structures.
- Construction
- Unique materials, such as aluminum, can be used in church construction to create visually striking facades.
- Art and Design
- Symbolic window designs can be created by artists and designers to add a spiritual and artistic element to new church structures.
