Church builders - Edwin Heathcote

It is only out of sacred reality that sacred buildings can grow … that sacred substance out of which churches can be built must be alive and real to us. Rudolf Schwarz This book traces developments in church building through the momentous changes in architecture and theology of the twentieth century. It illustrates the broad spectrum of modern ecclesiastical architecture which has emerged as the synthesis of the pluralism of the turn of the century and the purity and clarity of the Modern Movement. The opening essay by Edwin Heathcote charts the defining years of architectural development—the fundamental upheavals in theological conceptions of the nature of worship and the space for ritual — providing an outline of the concrete manifestations of these changes across the strongholds of Christianity in Europe and the USA. There is a brief analysis of work from the background of historicism through to the Arts and Crafts, the Secession and the emergent philosophy of Functionalism leading to the foundations of the modern church building. Among the many architects featured in this section are Auguste Perret, Rudolf–Schwarz, Otto Bartning, Dominikus Bhm, Antoni Gaud 7;, Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier. This is followed by a fully illustrated account by Iona Spens of some of the most interesting church builders of our time. The selection of churches and projects dates from the late 1950s to the present day and includes the work of Tadao Ando, Siren Architects, Fay Jones, Philip Johnson, Mario Botta, Imre Makovecz and Juha Leivisk revealing the fantastic pluralism which defines the architecture of the Christian Church as it prepares for its third millennium. The motive of Church Builders, the fourth title in the Builders series, is to convey the critical changes that have affected our spiritual fabric. Other titles in this series published by Academy Editions include: Museum Builders Theatre Builders Library Builders Future titles include: Airport Builders