Steyn Studio
Bosjes chapel
WORDS: STEYN STUDIO
Completed in deCember 2016, Steyn Studio’s Bosjes Chapel,
is due to open its doors to the public in March this year.
The new chapel, set within a vineyard in South Africa, is
designed by South-African born Coetzee Steyn of London based
Steyn Studio. Its serene sculptural form emulates the silhouette
of surrounding mountain ranges, paying tribute to the historic
Cape Dutch gables dotting the rural landscapes of the Western
Cape. Constructed from a slim concrete cast shell, the roof
supports itself as each undulation dramatically falls to meet the
ground. Where each wave of the roof structure rises to a peak,
expanses of glazing adjoined centrally by a crucifix adorn the
façade.
Drawing poetic inspiration from Psalm 36:7, the crisp white
form is conceived as a lightweight, and dynamic structure which
appears to float within the valley. A reflective pond emphasises
the apparent weightlessness of the structure. Elevated upon a
plinth, the chapel rises from the flat land its sits upon, providing
a hierarchical focal point within its surroundings. New planting
including a vineyard and pomegranate orchard create a lush
green oasis on the otherwise exposed site.
PHOTOS: ADAM LETCH
Inside, a large and open assembly space is created within a
simple rectangular plan. Highly polished terazzo floors reflect
light internally. The undulating whitewashed ceiling casts an
array of shadows which dance within the volume as light levels
change throughout the day. This modest palette of materials
creates a neutral background to the impressive framed views of
the vineyard and mountains beyond.
In order to keep the structural form of the roof and assembly
space pure, other elements of the buildings functional
programme are either hidden within the plinth, or discretely
within the outer corners of the surrounding garden.
Inspired by the simplicity of the Moravian Mission Stations
established on Cape Dutch farms in the 19th Century, the chapel
lacks a spire – relinquishing a sense of significance in relation to
its impressive natural surroundings.
An open embrace which invites in, the chapel is also a space that
extends outwards into the valley and mountains beyond, raising
the awareness of God’s creation in the immediate environment.
www.steynstudio.com