Would you call this a cathedral?

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This is what the Diocese was going for… a Lego Community.

Someone else posted these pictures in another thread and I thought I was looking at the same church.
 
Interesting to read all the opinions here. My take? It’s not something I would pick for a Cathedral. My first thought was echoed by someone else: Looks like a half-finished nuclear power plant chimney. The second thought I had was that I would hate to be anywhere near it if a substantial earthquake hit. All that flying, shattering glass! I wonder if the architects took constructing this in an earthquake zone into consideration. I am sure they did. The structure might stand, but what about all that glass? But, to each his own…
 
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Fast_ed75:
http://www.traditio.com/comment/com0505y.jpg

The inside is even worse!!
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If I were sitting inside that thing, I’d feel like Jonah inside the whale…

And about that crossless crucifix----do my eyes deceive me, or is Christ wearing gym shorts???
 
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dsproule:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y182/dsproule/lego1.bmp
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y182/dsproule/lego2.bmp
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y182/dsproule/lego3.bmp

This is what the Diocese was going for… a Lego Community.

Someone else posted these pictures in another thread and I thought I was looking at the same church.
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I started scrolling down and saw the picture before I saw your comments at the bottom, and the first thing I thought was “That looks like it’s made of Lego bricks!” 😃 😃

As a Lego creation, by the way, it is absolutely magnificent!
 
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harveyc:
The point is that SOME structures that were previously found to be unattractive are later viewed as being unattractive. Some that were once thought to be attractive, also are now considered unattractive.

Please support your comment that this structure does not give glory to God. I’ve read that several times and simply do not understand the rationale for it. Would you also tell someone that their method of prayer is inappropriate? What would the the apostles think of any of the structures used as churches today? The structures in Europe are not similar to the ones that existed in the Holy Land when Jesus was preaching here on Earth. The Catholic faith has become extremely week in Europe, so how has the design of the structures there helped build up the faith?
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I’m not talking about the building itself as far as it glorifying God. Most of us already agreed that the structure isn’t church-like or even ‘cathedral’. I’m talking about the inside. Just look at the pic if it’s anything to go by. Don’t you see a BIG difference. That’s what I meant by not glorifying God. Barren! Exactly what protestants have or lack of it in their church. What do we see when we look around the church. Blank. Nothing there to help us meditate on. There’s one church close to where I live that has folding chairs, no kneelers, no statue of Mary or Joseph and the crucifix is not even big enough. All around is just plain wall. The altar is not even in the front of the congregation but to the side because of the arrangement of the sitting. It’s stupid really! I’ve seen a couple of these so called churches already and I just hate it.

I can live w/ unattractive structure but give me more from the inside. It shows that the faith is still there. I don’t want to feel like I’m in a protestant church.

I know Europe is becoming Godless. They don’t appreciate what they have. Don’t we all sometime. But like the saying goes…we don’t know until we lose it.
 
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Wolseley:
If I were sitting inside that thing, I’d feel like Jonah inside the whale…

And about that crossless crucifix----do my eyes deceive me, or is Christ wearing gym shorts???
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This sure is the belly of the Beast–Could it be a sarcophagus?
 
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TarAshly:
This is just a model, im sure the priest along with the parishoners will adorn the church and make it a great place of worship.
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Yes. I’ve looked at the interior view again, and the crucifix/cross will be very much the focal point, if viewed from ground level (which is of course the way everyone will see it.) I would expect any added ornamentation to be spare, though.
Lisa N:
The schematic drawings are rather skeletal and probably do not give a full view.

It will definitely be worth visiting once it’s done!
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Absolutely!
Is there a view of the sanctuary from the vantage point of the pews? Now I’m curious.
 
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MarilynIN:
Interesting to read all the opinions here. My take? It’s not something I would pick for a Cathedral. My first thought was echoed by someone else: Looks like a half-finished nuclear power plant chimney. The second thought I had was that I would hate to be anywhere near it if a substantial earthquake hit. All that flying, shattering glass! I wonder if the architects took constructing this in an earthquake zone into consideration. I am sure they did. The structure might stand, but what about all that glass? But, to each his own…
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It’s not really to each his own, since this purports to be a Catholic Church and as such is representative of Catholicism. In addition, it is undoubtable that the hard earned money of countless traditional Catholics will either be used directly or indirectly to build this monstrosity.
 
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swampfox:
It’s not really to each his own, since this purports to be a Catholic Church and as such is representative of Catholicism. In addition, it is undoubtable that the hard earned money of countless traditional Catholics will either be used directly or indirectly to build this monstrosity.
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Yet your views are supposed to represent Catholicism? I consider myself a traditional Catholic and am liking the design the more I look at it and read about it.

Also, you are implying a funding program for the cathedral that is wrong. Please read here. Unless, you mean that counless traditional Catholics such as myself will gladly and willingly fund the construction with our hard earned money. 😉
 
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swampfox:
It’s not really to each his own, since this purports to be a Catholic Church and as such is representative of Catholicism. In addition, it is undoubtable that the hard earned money of countless traditional Catholics will either be used directly or indirectly to build this monstrosity.
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Well, yes, but you can’t build something everyone is going to like, even though everyone has to pay for it.

Being Catholic, we kind of expect that we won’t always get our way. That’s why the 1 billion of us are still a single denomination. Whether or not anyone likes the looks of it, it will be a Catholic church, and the cathedral church of a major diocese. But yes–one would hope that the great majority of those in the Oakland diocese find that once they are inside it, it inspires prayer. If they feel as if they are praying from Oakland with the whole church, though, as opposed to praying from France or Germany, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
 
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swampfox:
It’s not really to each his own, since this purports to be a Catholic Church and as such is representative of Catholicism. In addition, it is undoubtable that the hard earned money of countless traditional Catholics will either be used directly or indirectly to build this monstrosity.
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I don’t understand your reaction directed towards me over what I wrote. It’s not my style, but you are writing this as if I should hold my head in shame for writing the neutral statement that I made. I hate certain foods and music. It doesn’t mean that I have the Absolute Opinion re: styles and tastes. Nobody does. The Mass is still the Mass whether it will be celebrated in this unique-looking Cathedral or if it is celebrated in a small country Church built a century ago. So, who is the final voice on what represents Catholicism since the very word Catholic means universal? Certainly not any of us here.

To me, universal means of all, and that includes those who are inclined to ultramodern structures. As long as it is built according to what the Catholic Church decrees must be represented in its places of worship, it will be a Catholic House Of Worship, like it or not. Once it is finished, people will decide if it is a Church that inspires them or not. Only time will tell if this is the Ultimate Folly in church construction or not. Personally, I would rather see a return to more traditional styles, but as I will repeat, to each his own.
 
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cathgal:
I’m not talking about the building itself as far as it glorifying God. Most of us already agreed that the structure isn’t church-like or even ‘cathedral’. I’m talking about the inside. Just look at the pic if it’s anything to go by. Don’t you see a BIG difference. That’s what I meant by not glorifying God. Barren! Exactly what protestants have or lack of it in their church. What do we see when we look around the church. Blank. Nothing there to help us meditate on. There’s one church close to where I live that has folding chairs, no kneelers, no statue of Mary or Joseph and the crucifix is not even big enough. All around is just plain wall. The altar is not even in the front of the congregation but to the side because of the arrangement of the sitting. It’s stupid really! I’ve seen a couple of these so called churches already and I just hate it.

I can live w/ unattractive structure but give me more from the inside. It shows that the faith is still there. I don’t want to feel like I’m in a protestant church.
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Apparently, you didn’t read the linked bishop’s account in the post just above yours. Allow me to cite a couple of things:
The Cathedral of Christ the Light will be abundant with Catholic symbols and metaphors, woven into a context that has universal appeal. This is achieved through the very shape of the Cathedral and within it the dramatic unfolding of the Story of Creation leading to Redemption through Christ. On this point there is much more to come: the Sacred Art & Design Committee will be spending the next several years working out finishes, furnishings, and sacred art.
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Our design architect Craig Hartman, FAIA and our liturgist, Brother William are acknowledged leaders in their fields and make a fruitful partnership. Please take time to notice Craig’s brilliant use of natural phenomena – light, the cosmos, classic geometries - to speak of God in a universal sense, while Brother William builds on these natural symbols to thoughtfully weaves traditional Catholic metaphors and symbols into the very fabric of the building.
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Floor Plan: A Welcoming Gathering Place
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The floor plan of The Cathedral of Christ the Light is based on the “vesica pisces”- the intersection of two circles - an ancient sign among many cultures in the East and the West for a*gathering place.
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Christians will recognize a variation of this in the shape of a fish, a reference to the miracle of the loaves and fishes that was used by persecuted members of the early Church to secretly signal places for gathering and worshipping. This fitting geometry, commonly used in Church art through most of its history, simultaneously reminds us of our heritage and welcomes people of all faiths.
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Vault of the Heavens
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The vault will be a signature element of the Cathedral. It will rise emphatically to the heavens and signify most dramatically our transcendent destiny. The vault will be an icon for the heavenly vault, conceived through understanding of physics and technology, filled with God.
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In order to draw light into and out of the cathedral, the vaulting will be covered in a sweeping veil of glass, achieved through an innovative integration of wood and glass connected by a slender, high-tension trellis system. The dominant use of glass continues the evolution of Church architecture over the centuries toward more glass and less stone, made possible by new materials and building methods.
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The opaque strength of the wooden vaults and the delicate transparency of the glass veil speak eloquently of the miraculous interdependency of all God’s creation. The overall impression will be fluid and modern in form, but with easy-to-see references to cathedrals past.
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Oculus
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Our Cathedral will culminate in a delicate, jewel-like ceiling that mirrors the vesica pisces shape of the floor plan. This is made possible by a clever “compression ring” that protects the glass ceiling from the cumulative forces of the vaults. Reflected natural light will cause the roof to appear as though it is floating above its wooden vaulted walls. The tradition of offering a glimpse of heaven and God above through painted ceilings will be continued in a wholly new way, through artful use of light, texture, and shadows.
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Main Entrance
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The entry to the Cathedral symbolizes the threshold of God’s time. Here, we are invited to step out of the day-to-day, the mundane, into the world of eternal truths. Where did we come from? Where are we going? Who is God? What is expected of us? And so here we begin the story of God’s creation.
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Above the main entrance will be a large sculpture that clearly identifies the building as a Catholic Cathedral. A cross has been discussed, but there are many rich possibilities to be considered. The main entrance will be accessed directly from the plaza. It will include a large vestibule, with connecting stairs and elevator to the mausoleum below…
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Baptistery
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The Cathedral of Christ the Light will tell the story of God’s creation, starting at the very entrance.
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We speak of God as the Alpha and Omega (the beginning and the end), which is marked on the Easter candle every year. The south window – the “Alpha” window - is above the Cathedral main doors. The Alpha window will evoke beginning of time and the light that emerged from it. From that first act of calling forth light, God went on to make the stars, the earth, plant life and the animals, which will be depicted in the entry floor and wall areas.
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A point near the entry will describe the creation of man, which is the capstone of God’s creation since He made man in His image. Nearby will mark original sin. The baptistery will be located just below the Alpha window, reminding us when we enter the assembly area that we are born again in love, in Christ.
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During earliest days of the Catholic Church, the liturgy was processional, and churches had no permanent seating. The Mass would begin with a procession starting at the baptistery, stop midway for the Liturgy of the Word, then fill in around the altar for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The floor plan of our Cathedral echoes this custom, evoking a pilgrimage in which each of us takes part
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Walls and Devotional Spaces
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The wood and glass form of our Cathedral described above ascend from a thick base of architectural concrete, twelve feet tall. This promises to be one of the more intriguing areas of our Cathedral, for within this base will be six to eight devotional areas, including a Marian chapel. Windows in these enclosures will bring light of many tones and textures into the main nave of the cathedral. I am looking forward to seeing how these develop. Early concepts are delightful and inspiring. This may be where artifacts from our original Cathedral, St. Francis de Sales, can be installed, along with culturally significant devotional icons. There will also be chapels for the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, vesting areas, and storage areas here.
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Thanks, Chicago. I thought about posting the contents as well, but figured I’d save the space. I liked the design more after I first read Bishop Vigneron’s description. Hopefully, others will as well.
 
If it is a church that is the seat of a bishop ordinary and has a cathedra in it it is a cathedral.
 
Did anyone notice that the cathedral is designed in the shape of the ichthus (Jesus fish)? You can see it at the bottom of the Bishop’s tour here: christthelightcathedral.org/cathedral_tour_bv.htm

I was pretty impressed after reading through the tour of the cathedral. The model of the interior is obviously lacking… when we see the real thing, with all the light pouring down, it should be quite magnificent. There has been a lot of thought going into the design. There’s a theme from Creation to Judgement that’s being incorporated and everything seems to be placed where it is for a reason. And the tabernacle will be placed prominently behind the altar and visible to everyone (that should help the Traditionalists breathe a little ).

Jason
 
Well, to paraphrase my favorite new Catholic convert, Homer Simpson, I like my beer cold, my TV loud, and my church architecture veeerrrrry traditional, but having said that I will add that this design resembles slightly the chapel at the US Air Force Academy.

greatbuildings.com/buildings/Air_Force_Academy_Chapel.html

Also, I think that this building would be much better looking if built outside an urban area (which, I realize, defeats the point of it being a cathedral). If it was built on a hill with a view of the sea or in a stand of mighty trees, like the famous Wayfarer’s Chapel (wayfarerschapel.org/)), then the architecture, per se, would just dissolve and the congregation would just find themselves surrounded by the work of the greatest Architect of all time, Almighty God.
 
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