Architectures
International Center for Possibility Thinking
Richard Meier – International Center for Possibility Thinking, Garden Grove, California USA, 1998-2003
Year
1998 - 2003
Architect
Richard Meier
As part of its ongoing commitment to architectural excellence, Crystal Cathedral Ministries commissioned the International Center for Possibility Thinking, a hospitality and visitor center that is a third, independent element to the Crystal Cathedral designed by Phillip Johnson in 1980 and at the Garden Grove Community Church and Tower of Hope, designed by Richard Neutra in 1962 and 1966, respectively. These distinctly different yet compatible iconic buildings can be said to represent something of the evolution of architecture in Southern California over the past fifty years.
The Center, a four-story, partially cylindrical building, provides a gathering place for the congregation in an atmosphere of simplicity and sociability. When the eight large sliding glass lanai doors are pushed aside, the reception area is open to the elements. Worshippers and guests walk freely from the courtyard into a large, sky-lit atrium.
The Center's exterior materials were selected for compatibility with the overall architectural context. Embossed stainless steel panels and window wall components complement the Crystal Cathedral's mirrored glass.
The polished concrete floors reference the stone color of the adjacent Neutra building and the exposed aggregate of the common plaza that connects the three buildings. The visual vibration of the thin horizontal steel balustrade, used throughout, is echoed by a filigree of steel louvers suspended over the third-floor roof terrace of the complex. The transparent sheet of glass conveys an open, transparent and inviting architecture, while the shimmering aura of stainless steel panels presents a timeless sense of stability and permanence to the campus as a whole. A reflecting pool adds a contemplative and refreshing element to the courtyard.
Source: www.richardmeier.com
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