ABSTRACT
Mid-20th century sacred architecture in America sought to bridge modernism with religion by abstracting cultural and faith traditions and pushing the envelope in the design of houses of worship. Modern architects embraced the challenges of creating sacred spaces that incorporated liturgical changes, evolving congregations, modern architecture, and innovations in building technology.
The book describes the unique context and design aspects of the departure from historicism, and the renewal of heritage and traditions with ground-breaking structural features, deliberate optical effects and modern aesthetics. The contributions, from a pre-eminent group of scholars and practitioners from the US, Australia, and Europe are based on original archival research, historical documents, and field visits to the buildings discussed. Investigating how the authority of the divine was communicated through new forms of architectural design, these examinations map the materiality of liturgical change and communal worship during the mid-20th century.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part I|57 pages
Modernists and sacred architecture
part II|82 pages
The parabola, concrete, and modern sacred architecture
chapter 7|21 pages
A monumental absence
part III|80 pages
Denominations, identity, and modern sacred architecture
chapter 8|20 pages
Creating sacred spaces in the suburbs
part IV|71 pages
Modern interiors and liturgical fittings