“Re-pitching the tent,” they called it. Here at Gereja St. Aloysius, the soaring roofline tells a story. It speaks of simple worship. This isn’t just a building. It’s an architectural expression of faith.
Gereja St. Aloysius began with a master plan. The plan considered the church’s needs now and in the future. It addressed site circulation and service entries. Expansion of the existing school was part of the plan. The most significant part was building a new church for the parish. That new church is what stands before us.
Notice the entry sequence of Gereja St. Aloysius. It exploits the social implications of gathering for worship. The parking dictates a singular approach. We move through increasingly intimate spaces. This prepares us for worship in communion. Individuals become one with each other. We are reoriented to the altar. We renew our baptismal commitment. We do this by anointing ourselves with holy water. The water comes from the same baptismal font used for Christian initiation rites.
Locating Gereja St. Aloysius at the front of the site was deliberate. It allows the church to be a more recognizable icon. It creates a relationship with the existing rectory. This lends itself to a gathering area. This area sits between the church and rectory.
The hyperbolic paraboloid roof is striking. Usually, this roof is an inexpensive solution. It meets long-span roof requirements. You often see it used for utilitarian purposes. Sports arenas and athletic facilities use it. However, the project team and the owner were captivated by its elegance. They loved the fluid lines. These lines evoke a fabric tent. The tent of Gereja St. Aloysius is made from standing seam metal panels.
Consideration was given to the sacraments. Their adjacencies were carefully planned. The orientation of the altar and the daily chapel are important. They relate to the baptismal font at the entry.
The floating roof structure of Gereja St. Aloysius is a metaphor. It’s grounded by the Four Devotions. These devotions are Blessed Sacrament. They also include Passion of Our Lord. Love of Our Lady is another devotion. Finally, there is the Choir of Angels. Their locations provide the foundation. They support both the building and the congregation.
The architects, Erdy McHenry Architecture, completed Gereja St. Aloysius in 2009. The Four Devotions of Saint Aloysius sit within the church. They are adjacent to the large concrete buttresses. These buttresses anchor the roof. Gereja St. Aloysius tells a story of faith. Its architectural details invite reflection and devotion. It is a testament to the enduring power of belief.