LEAF Awards 2014

Luoyuan is a fast growing city by the coast of Fujian, a Chinese province famous for its traditional tea production on terraced plantations, its Hakka ethnic minority and their distinct ring - shaped residential architecture, the so called Fujian - Tulou.
Presently, the areas at the urban fringe of Luoyuan are undergoing a dramatic process of urbanization, quickly washing away the vernacular settlements, which promoted an intense community life. Instead, enormous residential high rise neighborhoods with their isolated apartment units are built – a process resulting in generic sub cities without any relation to the local heritage.

The Christian community of Luoyuan, composed of people of multiethnic background, is building a new church with community facilities in the town’s recently planned new residential district. Following the service - oriented model of Asian “Urban Churches”, and intending to cater specifically for the needs of young parents with children expected to live in the area, a differentiated and attractive program was developed that includes not only individual service venues for parents and children, but also class and activity rooms for all age groups, admin offices as well as a library and a public tea house. Consequently, the architectural challenges of this project lie in two aspects: Firstly, to integrate the complex everyday requirements of a community center with the dignified presence of a place of worship. Secondly, to retain a sense of tradition and local authenticity in this increasingly anonymous urban environment, while making a bold and iconic statement for the fast growing Christian communities in this part of the country.

The adopted design for Luoyuan Church represents a simple and unifying solution to these challenges: It employs its basic organization principle from the Fujian - Tulou, having the churches’ facilities orbit around an enclosed greened courtyard, protected from the urban noise expected to develop as the city grows, while a small Garden Chapel in its midst allows for informal contemplation. In this manner the building revives the traditional community life formerly inherent in the local vernacular architecture, creating a place where believers feel at home with their Christian family, a protected environment for their children to learn and play safely. The resulting building shape resembles an embracing gesture, and stimulates religious as well as historical interpretations.

In the darkness of night Luoyuan Church reveals its second nature: The main service hall is enclosed by a double skin facade composed of traditional stained glass, reinterpreting this traditional Christian church element on a monumental scale: Once completed, it will constitute the largest stained glass church façade in Asia and one of the largest in the world with over 1400sqm of stained glass elements being installed in its inner and outer façades. It will be artificially lit up from its central void during night time, thus illuminating the building both inwards and outwards, serving as symbol of hope for the Chinese Christian minority and inviting for night services.