i visited holl's chapel at seattle university for the first time last week. we spent two hours there in the afternoon and then returned at night for another hour to see the change. it was very impressive. definitely one of the most amazing buildings i've ever been in.

here's a panorama i constructed from a sequence of interior shots.

here's another panorama. this was at night... a chorale group was practicing in the narthex and the sound was fantastic. we couldn't have picked a better time to visit.

crillywazzy , it's truly a beautiful shots. thanks for sharing. i always wonder how the silky smooth exposed concrete was achieved. Is that wall plastered or an exposed concrete surface? Pardon me, i haven't really look into this building before. PS.Any reference abt the actual construction method of exposed concrete like this or that which Tadao Ando has become a master of? :confused:

it's not actually silky smooth concrete at all. it's heavily textured. i assume it's plaster that was trowelled to achieve that look. as for the actual construction, they cast 21 wall panels out of concrete and then laid them out like a jigsaw puzzle around the foundation and pulled them up with a crane into place.

here's a closeup detail of the textured wall. you can also see the green light which is another feature of holl's design... light comes in through various openings of colored glass to provide nice surprises like that.

please edit your first post with information on HOW to get there (preferably by public transport), opening hours and address.

please assume people know NOTHING about this building or the architect.

thanks

And the Google Earth .kmz placemark...

And the Google Earth .kmz placemark...
trogers, where did you get those .kmz? I am planning to include them in the upcoming site of mine. :confused:

the following are pictures of the chapel of st ignatius at seattle university (seattle, washington, usa) by architect steven holl. it is a small church serving a catholic university in the first hill neighborhood just above downtown. i am a little fuzzy on the specifics, but the building is relatively modest (>6000sf) and located along a main campus pedestrian thoroughfare. it was completed ca. 1997 and seems to have held up pretty well to the wet and rainy weather in seattle.

all of that being said, this is an absolutely stunning space. i grew up catholic and have since strayed from the path, but i must say i was very awestruck and inspired by the spaces created here. i could have spent hours meditating in the chapel if not for an impatient wife and an impending wedding party. i was very touched by my visit there, and i'm sure it will become a must see on my return visits to the area.

as i understand it, holl's parti involved the creation of 'bottles of light' each filled with different colors and attuned to a specific portion of the catholic mass. the exterior form of the building involves a number of light scoops in different orientations which gather light and bring it down into the chapel and ancillary spaces below. each of these scoops involves colored lenses and back painted baffles on the interior which flood the interior with light of varying color and intensity. as this phenomenon is a bit diffucult to capture on film or digitally (my medium this day) you'll just have to see it for yourself if you get the chance. enjoy!

{new info:

all photos were taken with a fuji finepix 510, no flash, available light only...

for some more conceptual info: http://www.seattleu.edu/chapel/about/

for a map and driving directions: http://www.seattleu.edu/chapel/locating/map.html

thanks to all for the google earth info and sorry for any confusion about placement, etc.}

approach to chapel from main part of campus showing the light 'scoops' which form the exterior of the building.

view of entrance across reflecting pool showing 'yellow cedar' (alaskan cypress) entrance doors.

detail at entrance showing precast concrete panels (actually tilt-up) and zinc roofing on light scoop.

view across nave from side ambulatory toward sacramental chapel (red light) - note the custom light fixtures, hand blown glass - a seattle specialty

view of altar and ambo from rear of nave. note the onyx screen behind the altar and the other ecclesiastical pieces. all of the objects were individually created by local artists and artisans

another shot across the nave this time towards the choir with the sacramental chapel again on the left.

view of sacramental chapel and madrona tree which shelters the onyx tabernacle and holds the eternal flame. the walls of the chapel are covered with dripped beeswax and embossed with passages from the teachings of st. ignatius.

view through a portal in the ceiling of the nave to the 'bottle' above the priest's vesting room.

detail of handrail attachment said to mimic the folds of the priest's vestments. note also the texture of the plaster walls found throughout the chapel.

view out through entry doors with light 'bottle' above

detail of interlocking tilt-up wall panels. all 'windows' occur in the intersections between the individual panels. the decorative bronze 'doodads' on the wall actually cover the pick points on the tilt-up panels.

Thanks for the post!

Could you also add information on the type of camera used, and "how to get there" information"?
Check DA RULES for posting, not to be a nuisance, just to get allthreads in simmilar format, :cheers:

i think i will start to phase out the architectural photo gallery forum and move all the threads to the travel forum instead.

there seems to me a general mis-understanding of the original intention of the photo gallery and its focus on photography.

there is also a lack of comprehensive threads and posts about projects around the world and how to get there information in the travel forum.

*sigh*.... when i have the time i will start the migration.

i think i will start to phase out the architectural photo gallery forum and move all the threads to the travel forum instead.

there seems to me a general mis-understanding of the original intention of the photo gallery and its focus on photography.

there is also a lack of comprehensive threads and posts about projects around the world and how to get there information in the travel forum.

*sigh*.... when i have the time i will start the migration.

Actually I thought this was located at the travel section, had to check it back!
With proper directions it is an excellent addition for it!
BTW, just hoovered over Seattle but no luck finding it in GE...

Thanks for the post. It is hard to tell in photos, this is one of the most powerful spaces I have ever been in. While the typology doesn't tell you that it is a chapel, (allthough the large steel cross in front of the water gives you a clue) the space has a spritual quallity. There is a sign at the front door that asks visitors to be quiet. I found this ironic because the space informs you that this is indeed a place to be quiet. This building is a must see if you are in Seattle.

Google Earth location:

Image:

Actually I thought this was located at the travel section, had to check it back!


ahhh yes.... it's a second post on this building.... i don't know what to do :confused:

Does anyone know of other project with and inovative use of tilt-up slab construction? I think it is an interesting process.

I think that this building uses tilt up concrete in its purest architectural form. Still one of my favorites of Holl.

Its good to see some of the details especialy the textures. I've never seen that before. Thanks.

sorry i don't have any pictures to post, but if you happen to stop by the chapel, there is a law school building just down the street (across from starbucks - a great landmark in seattle... lol) by olsen/sundberg/kundig/allen - the associate architects w/ holl on the chapel. it's a detailing gem.

I too visited it recently and took a collection of photos.

Great space!

http://dehon.org/antoine/Alaska2004/Holl-Chapel%20of%20StIgnatius/images/Holl-Chapel-007.jpg

http://dehon.org/antoine/Alaska2004/Holl-Chapel%20of%20StIgnatius/images/Holl-Chapel-032.jpg

http://dehon.org/antoine/Alaska2004/Holl-Chapel%20of%20StIgnatius/images/Holl-Chapel-037.jpg

Font
http://dehon.org/antoine/Alaska2004/Holl-Chapel%20of%20StIgnatius/images/Holl-Chapel-042.jpg


More photos here...
http://dehon.org/antoine/Alaska2004/Holl-Chapel%20of%20StIgnatius/index.htm


Honestly - not sure if it is easily reached by public transportation. We have a rental car. It is on a campus so there might be a route that would reach it.

I too visited it recently and took a collection of photos.

Great space!

Honestly - not sure if it is easily reached by public transportation. We have a rental car. It is on a campus so there might be a route that would reach it.

Please, don't link pictures but upload them here. Thank you! Size limitations is 700 x 700.

This building has been posted before, here (http://www.pushpullbar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=940&highlight=IGNATIUS).

actually, this was the first post....jbender's was two months later...

should both these threads be merged?

btw, that font shot is superb...

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Thanks for sharing...I found some more 'user' pictures on FLICKR (http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=chapel+of+st+ignatius)