Comments for The Dignity of a Building at http://www.thecatholicthing.org , comment 1 to 8 out of 8 comments http://www.thecatholicthing.org Wed, 22 May 2013 05:48:35 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/the-dignity-of-a-building.html#comment-4954 Thank you, Fr Bramwell. Beautiful reflection on the incarnational meaning of Catholic architecture. - Steven J Schloeder Sun, 03 Oct 2010 23:03:54 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/the-dignity-of-a-building.html#comment-4935 Emma, As a client said of her Wright designed house that leaked - "that's what you get for leaving artwork out in the yard." - Other Joe Thu, 30 Sep 2010 08:51:46 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/the-dignity-of-a-building.html#comment-4933 Other Joe, I am sure that it means something! Villa Savoye, for exaple, was bad from the beginning. The lady of the house constantly complained how open it was and the fact that the roof leaked! Don't get me wrong, I love minimalism but not when it sacrifices completely building's functionality. - Emina Melonic Thu, 30 Sep 2010 05:18:45 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/the-dignity-of-a-building.html#comment-4932 At a young age I awakened to my Catholic world in the nave of a grand Gothic sanctuary with high stone walls, carved angels looking down upon me from the rafters and a kaleidoscope of stain glass windows. There was no other building like it. This place was holy. Recently I belonged to a parish where the architectural lines of the "gathering space" folded in upon itself as if to focus on the people. I remarked to a priest in the diocese how the place reminded me of a bank lobby. Little did I know that the same priest had worked with architects to design that sanctuary...oops! Oh, well. - Scott Hesener Wed, 29 Sep 2010 23:10:50 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/the-dignity-of-a-building.html#comment-4931 Strangely, Corbu's work has generally aged very badly. That must mean something. - Other Joe Wed, 29 Sep 2010 12:32:41 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/the-dignity-of-a-building.html#comment-4930 Just one short comment to otherwise great column: Corbusier may have said and perhaps even intellectually understood the notions of light and space but many of his designs were disastrous. I am thinking of the monastery (La Tourette--forgive me, if it's misspelled) he designed: the whole "Brutalist" movement was closed to any movement of the human spirit. The space is cold and uninviting. One wonders whether this is a monastery or a factory or a communist inspired apartment building. Like many architects, Corbusier was more interested in leaving a "Corbusian" mark on the world rather than utilizing his gifts, which were (as J.S. Bach always wrote) soli Deo gloria. - Emina Melonic Wed, 29 Sep 2010 10:37:22 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/the-dignity-of-a-building.html#comment-4929 Architecture can and sometimes does rise to the level of art. Art may be defined for this purpose as that which transcends the pragmatic and achieves something of the universal, touches on beauty and thereby truth. The secular age we are living through discounts truth, beauty and by definition the transcendental. We should never forget the opportunity for expression that is provided by a church building to all of the artisans, artists and crafts workers. That opportunity can be for artisans , the very thing that makes a professional life truly fulfilling and deeply satisfying. We really do forget that in our secular distractions. There are many forms of prayer. - Other Joe Wed, 29 Sep 2010 08:59:02 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/the-dignity-of-a-building.html#comment-4928 Great article. Architecture should be an art, not a matter of mere functionality. Giving structure to "space and light and order" should seek to direct the mind to the true, the good, and the beautiful, regardless of the building's actual use. - Mark Wed, 29 Sep 2010 03:07:08 +0100