AZL Architects 张雷联合建筑事务所

Nanjing Wanjing Garden Chapel

Nanjing Wanjing Garden Chapel
© Yao Li

NANJING WANJING GARDEN CHAPEL

AZL Architects

ARCHITECTS
AZL Architects

PROJECT LEADER
zhang Lei

AREA
200 m²

PROJECT TEAM
zhang Lei, Wang Ying, Jin Xin, Cao Yongshan, Hang Xiaomeng, Huang Longhui

PHOTOGRAPHS
Yao Li

COLLABORATOR
ADI-NJU

YEAR
2014

LOCATION
Nanjing, China

CATAGORY
Religious Architecture, Chapel

Text description provided by architect.

The project - a 200 square meter small chapel, is located in Wanjing Garden along Nanjing’s Riverfront. Hosted by priests from Nanjing Union Theological Seminary, it supports religious activities like worship and wedding services.

This wood and steel structured chapel has gentle exterior shape as well as strong interior space infused with mysterious religious power. Its plain material doesn’t fail in expressing the delicate construction logic.

Nanjing Wanjing Garden Chapel
© Yao Li
Nanjing Wanjing Garden Chapel
© Yao Li

The earliest and fundamental church space has two interrelated tendencies- Center and depth. Both the centrality from the Pantheon and the deep axis of the Basilica was inherited in the early Christian Architecture.

The central and axial symmetry of church space became less prominent during the Modernism period, which was closely related to the Protectants’ rejection of Catholic Hierarchy.

In the design of Wanjing Garden Chapel, the architect didn’t purposefully reject the “centrality” and “depth” of classical space sequence.

In plan, it has an octagonal central hall surrounded by square shaped corridors. In section, the use of roof profile and the long slit of skylight amplify the depth of space and emphasize on the high point over the sacred space where all axis meet.

Nanjing Wanjing Garden Chapel
© Yao Li
Nanjing Wanjing Garden Chapel
© Yao Li

The wooden corridor forms a unique double shell of the central hall space. The inner shell is more closed, leaving natural light to penetrate only through openings on roof and walls.

The outer shell, composed of delicate SPF strips, serves as a filter of the view outside, implying the start of a religious spatial experience.

The double shell system creates a uniquely interesting oriental architectural space that’s different from the “closeness” of traditional stone chapel, or the “openness” of modern architecture.

The small chapel has a perfectly square shaped plan. Even with the 45-degree turning connecting inner space to exterior structure, the square remains highly integrated, symmetrical and center oriented.

Nanjing Wanjing Garden Chapel
© Yao Li
Nanjing Wanjing Garden Chapel
© Yao Li

Hidden diagonal axis in the plan also extends to the roof structure, realizing a complete integrity of space, material and power.

“…God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

- 1 John Bible

Nanjing Wanjing Garden Chapel
© Yao Li
Nanjing Wanjing Garden Chapel
© Yao Li

“Light” is an important theme in the religious expressions of church space. In this particular design, light falls through the strip skylight right above the axis of alter into the center of the hall, and also penetrate from behind the holy cross on the alter wall. The presentation of this 300 mm wide light strip is the most powerful defining element of the interior space. Other natural light comes gently through the wood strips into the openings on the wall.

“Light” construction strategy is a wise choice under tight project schedule and limited budget. Roof structure, in accordance with the “cheap” material- natural light, adds expressiveness to the entire space.

Nanjing Wanjing Garden Chapel
© Yao Li
Nanjing Wanjing Garden Chapel
© Yao Li

All interior surfaces are painted white, emphasizing the leading role of light and space. The exterior wood strips and asphalt shingles are left in their natural color, emphasizing the importance of nature. The SPF strips surrounding the church are so delicate that their length-to-radius ratio could be 1:120, largely exceeding the normal load bearing.

With length as long as 12 meters and section area only 38*89 mm, the strips are connected to the roof and ground by metal parts at both ends, keeping them in their ideal stretching status.

Nanjing Wanjing Garden Chapel
© Yao Li
Nanjing Wanjing Garden Chapel
© Yao Li

Adjacent wood strips are also connected with U-shape metal parts to insure stability. These together achieved a metal-wood structure that’s extremely simple in material selection and installation.

As a religious institution with very simple functions, this small chapel has its overly “ideal” space that couldn’t attribute to any particular style, but “the nature that tolerates all.”


Nanjing Wanjing Garden Chapel
Site Plan
Nanjing Wanjing Garden Chapel
Floor Plan


Nanjing Wanjing Garden Chapel
South-east Elevation
Nanjing Wanjing Garden Chapel
South-west Elevation
Nanjing Wanjing Garden Chapel
Southern Elevation
Nanjing Wanjing Garden Chapel
Southern Isometric
Nanjing Wanjing Garden Chapel
West Elevation
Nanjing Wanjing Garden Chapel
Exploded Isometric


Nanjing Wanjing Garden Chapel
Section

Nanjing Wanjing Garden Chapel
Section Detail

AZL Architects 张雷联合建筑事务所
T +86 25 51861369 F +86 25 51861367
AZL Architects 张雷联合建筑事务所
Block A, Fei Yimin Building, Nanjing University, Nanjing,China 210093 中国南京市南京大学费彝民楼A座