I've been reviewing the 2010 Solomon Award entries for an article in the November-December print issue of Worship Facilities Magazine. Among these entries there were a vast number of churches incorporating outdoor spaces into their facilities. These informal and inviting places can serve a variety of functions. Not least among those is serving as a place for connection, be it a small group meeting, or a one-on-one counseling session. Additionally, the opportunity to be out of doors and enjoying nature appeals to a dynamic group of individuals, some of which might not ordinarily consider themselves "church-goers." After all, church, and all that it entails, does compete with leisure activities. So, why not bring a little of that leisure to church?
First Christian Church of Huntington Beach, also known as Surf City, U.S.A., sees the opportunity to do so pretty clearly. "We have 340 days a year of sunshine," says Curtis Templeton, the church's director of communication. "We have to take advantage of that."
Working with nationwide Visioneering Studios, FCCHB recently reinvented its downtown A-frame structure into a multi-venue beach village wrapped around a central open-air plaza. The space is used by individuals as a place to read a book, or have coffee with friends, but also for book signings, outdoor weddings, and other special programs that appeal to the entire community, as well as FCCHB families. Best of all, just as the lines between indoor and outdoor are blurred at FCCHB, the differentiation between "church" and "life" is also beginning to dissipate. "[Community is] happening naturally," says Templeton. "We're really becoming a part of people's lives all week. We're just promoting the ability to hang out."
Further east, in the midst of more natural beauty, is The Gathering in Sevierville, Tenn. The Gathering's elevated patio area is a continuation of the indoor's fireside mountain lodge design. According to The Gathering's Worship Leader, Ashley Wiley, in every direction there is a view of the Great Smoky Mountains, an asset prized by The Gathering because it connects them to the wonder of their Creator, and one another. "It's definitely building community within our church because it's just a great environment to get to know someone," Wiley shares.
Conversely, Doug Benson, principal with MCM Architects in Portland, Ore., and director of the AIA's Northwest and Pacific Region, points to the use of outdoor spaces as a place to disconnect. He compares the simplicity of Sundays 50 years ago with the hectic lifestyles even the most pious worshipers live today. "Since Sunday is now a day of commerce like any other, the roads are filled with drivers going shopping and many other places besides just to church. Consequently, when one arrives [at church] they may no longer be calm and prepared for worship," Benson shares.
In response to this, Benson has worked with several churches on creating transition spaces, like courtyards and cloisters, meant to calm the mind and prepare one for worship and teaching.
At St. Joseph's Catholic Church, an MCM project in Wenatchee, Wash., Friar Thomas Kuykendall praises the flexibility of the courtyard. "Its presence has made our church a welcoming place, and it encourages people to relax."
The courtyard at St. Joseph's is equipped with seating, a covered walkway, and a fire pit, and is used for church ceremonies like the Easter Vigil and Blessing of Palms, as well as informal social gatherings and photo shoots. And, while it nicely serves individuals seeking a peaceful place for transition into worship, it is also a place where St. Joseph's parishioners find themselves gathering as a community following mass.
When planning an outdoor space, be it a patio, porch, plaza, or courtyard, Benson recommends considering all the ways in which the space might function and how it can support the broader mission of the church, as well as preparing for local weather and using materials that complement existing structures.
"Outdoor gathering spaces, at their best, become a seamless part of the campus of which they are a part, and their use or ‘type' is less important than their ability to adapt to a variety of uses over time," he concludes.
