Chapel at Rio Roca Ranch

The A-Frame is an interesting typology in architecture. It has a utilitarian foundation, but I've found that its architectural significance has to do more with its symbolism than its utility. Part of the reason I believe this is because a true A-Frame building has a much steeper slope than is needed to relieve the weather load it is intended for. Furthermore it's harder to work with in terms of maximizing usable interior surface area. It's just not terribly pragmatic, but it does, on the other hand, really accent the space it creates. It also, as the name implies, tends to frame space in a certain way. This Chapel by Maurice Jennings Architect is an example of how architecture doesn't merely frame a view, but also frames meaningful events that take place there. You see a lot of projects recently in which the architect is merely used as a tool to set up a scenic platform, but here the view is only significant as it pertains to its impact on the events occurring inside the chapel. It's a stage for more meaningful spiritual interaction and the architecture becomes secondary. As architects, I think we have a hard time with that, but more often than not, I find this is the proper order of things. Enjoy.