atmospheres
While reading Zumthor’s “Atmospheres,”
I couldn’t help thinking about last year’s trip to Mepkin Abbey. I think
as humans, we naturally are constantly trying to strive to have more than what is
simply there; we subconsciously look for this “Magic of the Real” and long for
a meaningful feeling of coherence.
At the Mepkin Abbey, the first
place that I immediately felt the connection of human to landscape was walking
into the courtyard of the St. Francis Retreat Center. Natural materials of
wood, glass, stone, and steel reflect Mepkin’s groundedness and commitment to
simplicity. Architecture should be a transformational space to reflect and
listen to the language that the environment and W.G. Clark’s design of the
retreat center clearly exemplifies the aspects of immersive reflection a
retreat center should have.
I totally agree with your last sentence. And what a great space that was, I wish I had some time to myself in there.
ReplyDeleteMepkin Abbey's Chapel was so simplistic and beautiful! The envelope offered an off-putting, stern demeanor that was opposing to it's breathtaking interior. This place of worship was calming and wholesome on the interior... one that led me to think about how engulfed one can become after stepping into a space.
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