BOSJES CHAPEL IN SOUTH AFRICA BY STEYN STUDIO

Images by Steyn Studio

Steyn Studio an architectural firm in the UK completed the Bosjes Chapel in Western Cape Province, South Africa few years ago. Set within a vineyard, the exclusive religious building came in sculptural form that mirrors the outline of the surrounding mountain ranges, while simultaneously referencing the region’s distinctive Cape Dutch Architecture. Noticeably designed without a traditional spire, the roof canopy was constructed from a slim, concrete cast shell according to Designboom website.

Conceived by the South African-born Coetzee Steyn, the principal architect of Steyn Studio, the undulating roof of ‘Bosjes Chapel’ dramatically rises in multiple mountain shape like glazing where each wave of the canopy rises to a peak, are adjoined by symbolic crosses. Elevated on a plinth, the crisp white form is bordered by a reflective pond positioned to emphasize its apparent weightlessness. The exclusive building is also flanked by a lush vineyard and pomegranate orchard.

The interior has a large, open assembly space within a simple rectangular plan, as the whitewashed ceiling casts an array of shadows throughout the day, while polished terazzo floors help with the reflection of light. A neutral material palette not only allows the worshippers to focus on prayers, but also enables the framed views of the surrounding landscape to take prominence.

To maintain the purity of the scheme’s structural concept, the architects hide elements of the building’s functional program discretely within the plinth, or even inside the outer corners of the nearby garden. Designed as a welcoming and inviting structure, the chapel outwardly maintain extended relationship with the valley by embracing its natural setting.

Project Info:

Construction Started on Site: 2013
Completion: December 2016
Gross Floor Area: 430 sqm
Location: Bosjes Farm, Witzenberg District, Western Cape, South Africa
Design Architect: Steyn Studio (UK)
Client: Confidential
Project Architect: TV3 Architects (South Africa)
Furniture Design: Liam Mooney Studio
Contractor: Longworth & Faul
Structural Engineer: Henry Fagan & Partners
Mechanical & Electrical Engineer: Solution Station
Quantity Surveyor: De Leeuw
Planning Consultant: Ron Brunings
Landscape Architect: CNdV Landscape Architects
Heritage Consultants: Graham Jacobs, Elzet Albertyn & Lize Malan