'It's about the inside, same as humans'
A church building that stands out for being quiet, both at night and during the day. The cross and the name on the outside of the building is the only thing that shows it is a church.
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The power of simplicity
The exterior has deliberately been kept simple to draw all attention to the interior. ‘It’s about what’s inside, just like with people.’ Visitors inside the church are met with a different experience; at the base of the walls runs a strip of glass. This allows views of the water and garden surrounding the church. Together with the sky, all the basic elements come together. The building is surrounded by water on three sides, giving it the appearance of floating.
This is plywood only 0.6 mm thick, with three layers cross-glued. The plywood is so thin that the structure of all three layers can be seen through it. This material lets a golden light into the building.
Hans van Pelt, structural engineer, EGM architects
This idea is further emphasised by the fact that one short side of the building actually floats above the water. ‘To stand out’ is the key word, both by day and by night. To be noticed in a noisy environment, you either have to shout loudly or be very quiet. In the ‘noise’ of De Volgerlanden, a quiet building was deliberately chosen. The cross and the name of the church on the outside are the only indications that reveal the building’s purpose.
Awards
- Daylight Award 2008 – nominated
- Wood Prize 2008 – nominated