Usually representing spirits, ancestors or the primordial couple, these figures were placed in shrines and treated with great respect. Through a wide range of style, scale, belief and function the couples depicted share a timeless, serene equality necessary to the continuity of their societies.

Don Bosco Catholic Church/ Space and Systems Architects

Architects: Space And Systems Architects
Location: Upper hill, Nairobi, Kenya
Project Team: Special Input: Fr. Tony Fernandez
Project Year: 1993
Photographer: Edwin Seda

- 26 April 2015
- Kililo Mtamu
Religious Centres , Modern Africana , Selected Works ,

This youth church stands out from the traditional Catholic Church which was more solemn, more linear and with cold colors in a curvilinear, natural lit stepped high volume space that remains true its spirit.

The composition of circular forms has been perfected where four independent circular forms are tied together by another circular cantilevering plane with conical roofs at the top. The resultant space forms neat curved seating that has sweeping and uninterrupted views of the altar and the entire space.The church maintains the stained glass for the windows as most church would but adds to that by the introduction of the staggered roof that creates roof lights between them that allow natural diffused light into the space lifting the spirit of the space and creating a more spiritual experience.

The materials in the interior of the church scale down the high volumes of the church to human scale without compromising on the high volumes associated with places of worship.

Its universal design approach of the church makes it a welcome to the physical challenged by having several ramps for its access. This is a response to the steep slope of the site that was a challenge in the design but has been used as an opportunity for creation of other supporting facilities for the church at the lower levels of the church which are still natural lit.

- © Don Bosco Catholic Church_Front
- © Don Bosco Catholic Church_Access
- © Don Bosco Catholic Church_Altar
- © Don Bosco Catholic Church_Seating
- © Don Bosco Catholic Church_Lighting
- © Don Bosco Catholic Church_Structure
- © Don Bosco Catholic Church_Fenestrations
- © Don Bosco Catholic Church_Congregation

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

If you want your own avatar and keep track of your discussions with the community, sign up to archiDATUM >>

SELECTED WORKS

- Roman Ridge / Alfredo Resende Architects
- 29 Sep 2015
In the growing city of Accra, Ghana,a new twelve-building complex captures the artistic play of facades and elegant block design. It is a...
- Ahmed Baba Institute of Higher Islamic Studies and Research / DHK Architects
- 31 Jul 2015
The Ahmed Baba Institute of Higher Islamic Studies and Research, commonly referred to as Ahmed Baba Institute, is a library and research ...
- Yves Saint Laurent Museum / Studio KO
- 09 Apr 2018
While studying the couturier’s archives, Studio KO became intrigued by the duality between curved and straight lines, and between loose a...

CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN DIRECTORY

- Mazars' 54 Glenhove / Paragon Architects
- 19 Nov 2016
The just completed office complex for Mazars in Johannesburg marks a paradigm shift from the idea of commercial architecture. While it se...
- Arijiju Resort / Life Grand Group
- 02 Apr 2017
Arijiju lies on the lowland. The building behaves as though it has always been on that warm stone hillside with living, grassed roofs tha...
- LAP Marina Residence / 5+1AA Alfonso Femia Gianluca Peluffo + Peia Associati
- 12 Jan 2018
The main target regarding the LAP residential complex is not only to provide a luxury compound of modern villas with all the full residen...