The congregation and clergy of the Church of the Resurrection at Keysborough in Melbourne commissioned Meaden Architecture and Interiors to design and supervise the construction of their new church building.
They wanted this new church building to be experienced as a sacred space, a world of prayer and contemplative thought, a house of worship, celebration, and sorrow; a place where the spiritual dimensions of life could be accessed and indulged.
They wished for a building that would reflect the ethos, symbols, and philosophy of Resurrection Parish.
The Parish began in the nineteen-seventies with revolutionary ideas of worship and assembly.
Openness, transparency, and willingness to engage with all were the original key principles to be carried into the new Resurrection Church.
Conceptually the tectonic language of the building attempts to reflect this openness and transparency.
Materials and details are raw and honest reflecting its construction process.
The glass and steel front façade reveals all to the public world, yet once inside and within, the massive Piza walls offer security and protection.
The main church axis runs east-west, aligning itself with the orientation of the coloured glass window in the existing church that depicts the resurrection.
A new resurrection glass above the entry narthex continues a tradition whereby the parish congregation waits in the Easter morning darkness for the first beams of light to pierce the coloured glass and re-enact the Resurrection of Christ.
The new church is much larger than the existing church, so Meaden Architecture and Interiors scaled its bulk down by using adjunct structures and verandahs that bump and slide out of its larger body.
The rusted iron cladding, both in form and colour, resonate to the red brickwork and angular character of the existing church.
The curved iron front facade reflects the same forms used at the entry to the existing church.
And the unashamed transparency of the existing church is repeated in the new, including by default the old church within the visual experience of the new.
It includes and celebrates its presence.
The new church has been deemed a success with both the church community and clergy content with all aspects of the building.
Many of the building elements, including liturgical furniture, were constructed outside of the builder’s umbrella of trades, and were closely supervised by the project architect, Meaden Architecture and Interiors.
Sustainability is recognized in the building’s low-maintenance cost and thermal stability through the extensive use of rammed earth on the north, south, and west elevations, along with the use of Coreten cladding.
The project commenced in 2009 and evolved and adjusted over time to its changing circumstances.
Today, the Church of the Resurrection is well-regarded and much-loved by its active community.
Project Details
Completion date – 2015
Construction budget – $3,630,000
Project Team
Architecture
Meaden Architecture and Interiors
Meaden Architecture and Interiors is a small architectural practice led by Mark Meaden and based in Melbourne. Since their humble beginnings in 2001, Meaden Architecture and Interiors has delivered innovative and intelligent projects within institutional, education, hospitality, and residential sectors.
Mark is intimately involved in all projects and provides accountability for all stages. He has been designing architecture, interiors, and specialist art objects since 1983.
Recognized for his ability to create unique and project specific designs, Mark understands the critical relationship between the designed environment and the philosophical underpinnings of an organization or individual.
He believes that the successful union of the two, as manifested in the work, promotes ownership, value recognition, and longevity of use.
Photography
Parallax Photography
David McArthur leads Parallax Photography, a Melbourne based studio.
Apart from creating architectural and interiors photography for architects and designers, David undertakes advertising, editorial, industrial, and annual reportage photography for brands like Agilent, Amcor, Enjo, Bruker, Mobil Australia, The Austin Hospital, and Tabcorp from his St Kilda East studio.
Photo Gallery
Click on a thumbnail image to enlarge.
Design © 2020 Meaden Architecture and Interiors. All Rights Reserved.| Images © 2020 Parallax Photography. All Rights Reserved.
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