When we think of a church probably Latin cross, marble altars and ancient altarpieces come to our mind. But not all of them are like this. There are different, more modern ones who have chosen to avoid the ‘neo’ style of the common temples and go for a risky shape and even for peculiar materials. Let’s look at some of these different churches:
Chapel of the Holy Cross (Sedona, USA)
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix has this chapel in the hills of Sedona, Arizona, which was commissioned by a local rancher, Frank Lloyd Wright, on architect Marguerite Brunswig Staude, and which was slightly inspired in the Empire State of New York. The construction was carried out in 1956 and is highlighted for how it fits into the environment.
Salt Cathedral (Zipaquirá, Colombia)
Near Bogota we find this underground temple located inside the salt mines of Zipaquirá. It is a construction that began in 1990 after the closure of the Old Cathedral of 1953 by the poor conditions in which it was. The cathedral has several new pavilions and a large dome. It is not really recognized as a cathedral officially and works as a museum, with several works made with salt, and is considered one of the seven wonders of Colombia.
Hallgrimur church or Hallgrímskirkja (Reykjavik, Iceland)
Architect Guðjón Samúelsson is responsible for this church in Reykjavik, which holds the title of tallest building in Iceland, 74.5 meters. Curiously it is not named after a saint or virgin but the renowned Icelandic poet Hallgrimur Pétursson. With its peculiar appearance, it took nearly 40 years to be lifted until 1986, when it was consecrated. It is of Lutheran worship.
Justo’s Cathedral (Mejorada del Campo)
There is a very particular history behind this building. After being expelled from the Cistercian monastery of Santa Maria de Huerta (Soria) for being suffering from tuberculosis, Justo Gallego Martinez was cured and began to build a cathedral as a promise to God and the Virgin. But the most special thing is that he did it alone and unaided. For almost half a century ago, Justo spends his time and the family economic resources he had, as well as donations he receives, to construct this work without any specific training and of which there are not even official plans. Although the building is popularly known as ‘cathedral’, truth is that it has no such recognition due to not being consecrated or being recognized by the diocese corresponding to the area.
United States Air Force Academy Cadet (Colorado Springs, USA)
At first glance it can remind us to the City of Arts and Sciences of Valencia, but the truth is that this US military chapel is much older. As you can imagine, it came with some controversy when it opened in 1963, but over the years it has become one of the most famous works of Walter Netsch, its author, and a good example of brutalist architecture. The space is spread over two levels and was slightly inspired by classics like the Sainte Chapelle in Paris.
Photos: Bryan Chang, Jorge, Coldpix, Norm Hoekstra and Stibenzon.
