The CHURCH OF LIGHT

OSAKA ,JAPAN
ABOUT....

• The , Church of light is located in a

small town of Iberaki which is right
outside them sprawling metropolis of
Osaka ,Japan .
• The size of its site is only 838.6 square
meters and the size of the building itself
is only 113.3 square meters which is
roughly the size of a small house.
• By really placing emphasis on the wall
and its significance of the individual
really contrasts and disagree with many
ideas of modernity in architecture since
the 1920’s .
• To Ando the concrete walls plays into
his ideas the architecture should
confront nature .
 TADAO ANDO – The Architect
• Tadao Ando , born September 13,
1941) is a Japanese self-taught architect.
• Ando was raised in Japan where
the religion and style of life strongly
influenced his architecture and design.
Ando's architectural style is said to
create a "haiku" effect, emphasizing
nothingness and empty space to
represent the beauty of simplicity.
• He favours designing complex (yet
beautifully simple) spatial circulation
while maintaining the appearance of
simplicity.
• BUILDING TYPE : CHRISTIAN CHURCH
• DATE COMPLETED : 1989 ,1999
• SITE AREA : 838.8 SQ MTS
• BUILDING AREA : 113 SQ. MTS
• STRUCTURE : REINFORCED CONCRETE
• ARCHITECT : TADAO ANDO
LOCATION
• Located in a hidden corner, in a quiet residential suburb in Ibaraki,
Osaka, this small complex comprises two modest buildings, arranged
at an angle, oriented according to the urban pattern of the
neighbourhood. The site consists of three buildings – The minister’s
house , The Sunday school and The Main chapel ( the church of light)
CONCEPT
• The awareness of the spiritual and secular within
themselves . The Church of light is an architecture of
duality the dual nature of co existence solid /void/dark,
stark / serene . The co existing difference leave the church
void of any , and all, ornament creating a pure ,
unadorned space . The intersection of light and solid
raises the occupant.
• The concrete construction is a reinforcement of Ando’s
principle focus on simplicity and minimalistic aesthetic .
Ando’s decision to place the cross on the east façade
allows for light to pour into the space throughout the
space and into the day , which has a dematerialising effect
on the interior concrete walls transforming the dark
volume into a illuminated box.
 DESIGN
• Based on very simple elements like rectangular boxes and intersecting planes, Ando modelled
the churches using light and space. The main church, is a 6 x 6 x 18 m box, laterally crossed
by a wall rotated 15 degrees from the main axis of the nave.
• Ando's merit lies not only in introducing this element obliquely, that brings dynamism to the
serene orthogonal space of the nave, but to separate it a few inches from the roof, allowing
light to filter horizontally and giving the impression that the roof is floating in the air.
• This diagonal wall also contains a 1.60 x 5.35 m glass sliding screen and the gateway to the
room, as in a traditional Japanese shoji.
• Behind the altar there is a cross-shaped opening, bathing the interior space with the power
and energy of light.

PLAN AND WALL AND SITTING

CROSS
SECTION AREA
 SITE PLAN
• TOTAL SITE AREA
– 838.8 sq.mts
• BUILDING AREA
- 113 sq.mts

ROAD INTERSECTION

The church of light

 ORIENTATION
Main chapel
• The main chapel is orientated towards
the south east direction. This is done
so that the morning rays of the sun
enter directly into the chapel.
• The access to the compound was made
intentionally indirect, unlike many
churches in the West.
• Visitors are forced to enter the
complex at the northeast corner through
a side street via a forecourt that leads to
a corner of the church near the
minister's house, arriving to an area
located in the back of the church.
• From there one enters to a tiny little
square, which houses a circular bench.
Through This space organizes the
accesses to the main church and
Sunday school adjacent chapel.
DIRECTION of LIGHT

15 Degree
Shift

Sun
(SOURCE OF
LIGHT )

Cross
FLOOR PLAN
 CONSTRUCTION
Front wall which has
Side walls the cross

• The Church of the

• Penetrated by a
The Penetrating wall
Light consists of
three 5.9m concrete
cubes (5.9m wide x
17.7m long x 5.9m
high).
wall angled at 15°,
dividing the cube
into the chapel and
the entrance area.
 MATERIALS USED ....
• The building, constructed in concrete,
has given up any ornament in favour
of the spirituality that gives light,
enhancing its sacredness Reused wooden
• Planks and other parts of the planks
scaffolding used during building
construction were re-utilized as the
floor and benches inside the church,
finished with a black oil stain,
harmonizing with the austere and
minimal character of the place.

Concrete : the main

material of construction
 RELATION to JAPANESE ARCHITECTURE
• Nature is always a reference in traditional
Japanese architecture. Thus the fluidity of
the relationship between interior and
exterior. Upon entering the chapel and
looking to the right, a long window reveals
a simple allegory to the cross, resting on
greenery and water.
• The greenery can be throughout the site of
the church giving it a natural essence.
USER BEHAVIOUR
• User behaviour in the church of
light is mainly stimulated by the
building itself . The building may
look small but at every curve the
user may see a totally changed
view of the building. For eg. The
circulation space in the church of
light is totally controlled by the
angled wall

The single wall controls the circulation and shows

a totally different view as the user enters thereby
controlling the user behaviour
 CONCLUSION
• This church is seen as a place of retreat where the outside world
is forgotten and the natural world is emphasized in a rather
abstract manner, that is, Ando’s control of the light. This church
beckons the fundamental simplicity of Christianity with its low-
tech, yet powerful design.
• The humbleness of the materials (rough concrete, metal and
glass) and furniture, the poetry of the geometry enhanced by the
dramatic use of light offers a special experience of beauty and
spirituality. Tadao Ando once again demonstrates his mastery in
this simple building, achieving a perfect unity of matter and
spirit, reflecting the very essence of Christianity, but expressing
it through the simplicity of Zen Buddhism.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
• GOOGLE
• GOOGLE IMAGES
• WIKIPEDIA
• ARCH DAILY
MADE BY
: Sagar
Simran rattan