Flatbush

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Location: Brooklyn, NY
Square Footage: 65,000
Type: Residential
Year: 2011

Embedded within a new building containing 53 units of affordable housing, a sanctuary enveloped by a screen of bricks acts as a beacon to the local community and as a new, modern instrument for the ministry of the church. The church rests within the heart of this new construction and invites the congregation inside through a bright, welcoming corner entry.  Upon entry one initially descends, as the sanctuary of the church is on the first level below grade.  As one descends the main public stairwell to a gathering space on the lower level an original stained glass window from the old church, which previously occupied this same site, is prominently displayed.  As one completes this descent a turn is made towards the main sanctuary and monumental doors open just below a small, bright window to the world outside and above. The main sanctuary is defined by a brick screen behind the pulpit. This wall is built of two layers of brick which have been pulled apart to let light through. Cloud-like patterns in this wall reveal motion and activity on the street and in the city beyond. This wall, most importantly, is made from the structure of the old church which originally stood on the site, and it illuminates and guards the space of the new church.  A ceiling, conceived of as a sculpted belly, softly conceals structure and mechanical systems and shelters the congregation.A mix of affordable residential apartments occupy the floors above, with a screened, glowing meeting room at the corner setback marking the civic nature of this hybrid building. 

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