The Chapel of Saint Ignatius
- Dedicated April 6, 1997
- Architect: Steven Holl,
- Associate Architect: Olson Sundberg Architect,
- Contractor: Baugh Construction
This small chapel incorporates a variety of tactile materials: smooth tilt-up concrete walls stained warm brown, heavy carved wooden entry doors, textured plaster interior walls. The light entering the chapel through many different sorts of windows washes the walls with different colors.
The organic curves and play with light remind me of Le Corbusier's Ronchamp.
Perhaps the similarity is a bit too obvious.
This building feels a bit flimsy and somewhat gimicky. It might be that the architect is trying to do too much...that he is experimenting with everything...and some of the experiments are bound to fail.
I like the delicate metal cross above the entry and the way it seems to be speaking to the taller sculptural cross across the pool of water. The different shapes and colors of light create a nice effect, but the thickly textured white plaster that receives the light is not elegant.
The concrete wall on the north side has a notable crack running between several of the oval shaped nobs. I think these are decorative, but also bolting the wall panels in place (see the last few photos below)
