Mary Help of Christian Church (Chaweng) in Surat Thani, Thailand by JUTI architects

Article source: JUTI architects

Given the extension of Catholic community and the increasing in tourist in Samui island, Suratthani, who wishes to participate the mass in the then chapel, Bishop Joseph Prathan Sridarunsil, SDB, came up with the idea to build a new church and name it as Mary Help of Christian church. The selected architect, whom inspired by the church name, took part of the Holy Bible relating to holy Annunciation of Mary into his design as follow:

Image Courtesy © JUTI architects

• Architects: JUTI architects
• Project: Mary Help of Christian Church (Chaweng)
• Location: Koh Samui, Suratthani, Thailand
• Software used: Sketch up and Autocad
• Structural Engineer: Sqn.Ldr. Ronayutt Vongmanee
• Owner: Suratthani Catholic Foundation
• Gross Built Area: 722.5 m2
• Construction Cost: 365,000 p
• Completion Year: 2018

Image Courtesy © JUTI architects

LUKE 1:35

In answer the angel said to her: “Holy spirit will come upon you, and power of the Most High will overshadow you. And for that reason the one who is born will be called holy, God’s Son.

LUKE 1:38

Then Mary said: “Look, Jehovah’s slave girl. May it happen to me according to your declaration.” At that the angel departed from her.
From the Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to Luke, 1:35 and 1:38, we can see that the appearance of Angle to convey the Holy message to Mary the virgin was in a humble and simple way yet powerful. It was to accept the Holy Spirit to possess her in order to bear the Redeemer in her womb. She sacrificed herself as a natural mean for human being survival.

Image Courtesy © JUTI architects

Image Courtesy © JUTI architects

Safe as in mother’s womb

In designing the building, the architect intends to convey this message in a simple way with its internal space with light form that creates a feeling of security as in the mother womb.

Building exterior was designed in a combined form of praying hands, Angle wings and the Rays of the Holy Spirit. The use of natural light through the skylight for interior lighting and shadow of cloud falling on the walls, represent the God mighty that is above all things created by human being. To realize this phenomena in a hot and humid environment of Samui island, the long and narrow light voids in combining with light weight insulation concrete wall running through then were design in order to create a shadow that keep changing with time yet retains the interior comfort.

Image Courtesy © JUTI architects

Image Courtesy © JUTI architects

“Integrated 2 classic layout plans”

The Layout plan is basically focus on classic cross planning of traditional church. Integrated with surrounding corridor planning of traditional Thai’s “Wat”(Temple). This corridor act as heat buffer and create shade to main activity area which is more match to tropical climate of Samui island, South of Thailand.

“No decoration…… Best decoration”

Since the purpose of the church is for praying, the architect intends to minimize the symbolic decoration. Hence, the prayers would focus only on sacrament and its natural environment. Natural material with minimum process are selected, eg. white concrete wall, terrazzo floor, glass, natural white oak furniture and gray marble, were used for interior decoration. Prayers can humbly enjoy their peace of mind while embracing the Glories of the great Creator.

HONOR (update 11/07/2019)

2018 Shortlist 7 Best Asia Public Building – Culture and Religion Building
By 2A Continental Architectural Asia & Europe Award of 2A Magazine and IAAC,
(Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia) Barcelona.
2019 Silver A’ Design Award Winner for Architecture, Building and Structure –
Design by The International Design Academy, Italy
2019 Shortlist 6, Finalist in Completed Buildings: Religion category
By World Architecture Festival 2019
2020 Excellent Architecture By German design award, Germany

Image Courtesy © JUTI architects

Image Courtesy © JUTI architects

Image Courtesy © JUTI architects

Image Courtesy © JUTI architects

Image Courtesy © JUTI architects

Image Courtesy © JUTI architects

Image Courtesy © JUTI architects

Image Courtesy © JUTI architects

Image Courtesy © JUTI architects

Image Courtesy © JUTI architects

Tags: Surat Thani, Thailand

Categories: Autocad, Church, SketchUp

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