| Grace And Holy Trinity Kansas City, Missouri |
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The project site is a narrow lot located on a prominent corner on axis with a primary vehicular entrance to the downtown core and adjacent to the historic English country style Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral. The program required phased development providing an administration facility for the Episcopal Diocese in the first stage and providing a chapel and columbarium for the Cathedral congregation in the second stage. Each of the two clients requested facilities with individual identity but both wanted to blend with the existing Cathedral buildings. Both clients expressed a desire for the new project to reinforce their individual roles and services to the downtown community. |
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| The building's elliptical geometry responds to the narrow site and contextual relationships. That geometry, together with the rectilinear roof structure, create contrapuntal sculptural consequences which define phase one and phase two buildings, identify each client's building with a distinguished but unifying character, emulate Cathedral building forms, and generate symbolic religious allusions. Phase one establishes site and building relationships which respond to and reinforce axial urban vistas: corner is opened to view of courtyard and Cathedral; Diocesan offices focus on gold dome of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral to the north; Diocese building terminates view from the Cathedral entrance to establish spatial enclosure; and the entrance is designed as a procession of spaces on axis with and terminated by a reconstructed historic stone reredos. |  |
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The architectural form, geometry and materials of the new building express in contemporary terms the historic building’s design vocabulary creation of a harmonious dialogue and unified composition. A central courtyard creates a "place of celebration" for religious, social, and community activities. Partially open to view but screened by an arcade wall, topographic change and landscaping, the composition of courtyard and buildings form a pleasant vista for motorists entering downtown. It serves as both a transition space and unifying element between the new and old, and restates a traditional plan relationship between church, cloister and graveyard (columbarium). |
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