Pierre Thibault: Cistercian Abbey, Quebec, Canada.The new Cistercian Abbey of Saint-Jean-de-Matha strives to express the spiritual and philosophical harmony sought by Cistercian monks in their daily lives. Simplicity, utility and economy are at the heart of the Cistercian aesthetic, and hospitality, contemplation and prayer hold a privileged place in monastic life. The seven daily offices punctuate punc·tu·ate v. punc·tu·at·ed, punc·tu·at·ing, punc·tu·ates v.tr. 1. To provide (a text) with punctuation marks. 2. a way of life regulated by prayer, while the passing of the seasons marks time. Within this context, the new abbey addresses the complementary imperatives of introversion introversion: see extroversion and introversion. and extraversion extraversion /ex·tra·ver·sion/ (ek?strah-ver´zhun) extroversion. extraversion see extroversion. . The sequential organisation of functions within the project encourages inner reflection and privacy for both monks and guests, while the volumetric volumetric /vol·u·met·ric/ (vol?u-met´rik) pertaining to or accompanied by measurement in volumes. vol·u·met·ric adj. Of or relating to measurement by volume. purity of the abbey responds to the landscape in a gesture that promotes the intertwining of natural and built elements. Walkways, paths and corridors are designed to manifest and impart the subtle changes of landscape to daily life. In accordance with Cistercian principles, the spaces of the new abbey are arranged around a cloister cloister, unroofed space forming part of a religious establishment and surrounded by the various buildings or by enclosing walls. Generally, it is provided on all sides with a vaulted passageway consisting of continuous colonnades or arcades opening onto a court. with a church as the focal point focal point n. See focus. and heart of the project. The concentric motion of the compound is traversed by the gatehouse, which links functions accessible to guests, specifically the guest house and church, while protecting the more private cloister. Anchored in the landscape that cradles it, the new abbey stands out in its simplicity, economy of means and in its relationship with the surrounding environment. C. S. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion