University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Graduate Studies Legacy Theses 1998 A path of sodality: A Catholic maronite church for Calgary Couture, Vicky Couture, V. (1998). A path of sodality: A Catholic maronite church for Calgary (Unpublished master's thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. doi:10.11575/PRISM/24394 http://hdl.handle.net/1880/26307 master thesis University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission. Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. 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Higher quality 8" x 9" black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. Bell 8 Hawell Information and Learning 300 Norttr Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 481B1346 USA A PATH OF SODALITY A CATHOLIC MARONITE CHURCH FOR CALGARY Maron~tesanctuary in the Holy Valley, lebonon. Prepared in Partial Fulfillment of the requirements of the Masters of Architechue Degree, in the Faculty of Environmental Design, The University of Calgary. @Vicky Couture June 1998 National Library Bibliotheque nationale of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographic Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Canada Canada Your hk Volre relerence Our hie Narre reference The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive pennettant a la National Library of Canada to Bibliotheque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire, preter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette these sous paper or electronic formats. la fome de microfiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format electronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriete du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protege cette these. thesis nor substantial extracts &om it Ni la these ni des extraits substantieis may be printed or otherwise de celleci ne doivent gtre imprimes reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. The Master's Degree Project is a design for a local Lebanese Maronite Catholic Church. The parish is served by a part-time priest and the church operates within the Canadian Catholic Diocese. The design considers the combined influences of: Catholicism, Maronite Lebanese culture, and Canadian regionalism and geography, by considering the unique history of the Catholic Maronite people and the contextual implications of building in Calgary. The architectural program facilitates and meets the needs for Maronite Catholic Mass, religious holiday celebrations, and for parish gatherings. The project is intended as one possible solution for simple and provident spaces which will contribute to a supportive facility for parish life. The MDP is meant to help the community establish long term goals, to realize some of the general design parameters required, and to consider concomitant roles a church building can embrace. The process en tailed: Interviewing parish committee members to establish a relevant ardutectural progt-arnme* Selecting a potential site with consideration given to the general Catholic community, the Maronite Catholic paristuoners, and the City of Calgary. Developing a design strategy incorporating the architectural idea of the path as an organizing prinaple. Calculation of a general cost estimate The architectural response to the design problem is explored and documented. General consideration is given to site and orientation, simplicity of structure and detail, cost and budgeting, accessibility, and material selection. The project demonstrates that successful provident spaces can be wrought from thoughtful architectural intention. The project embraces the middle ground be tween overly designed, overly expensive architecture, and thoughtless mediocre building practices, by adopting thoughtful and moderate design strategies. The design scheme responds to the culture and history of the Middle Eastern parishioners and at the same time embraces a Canadian context, consequently the church design is a blend of old traditions in a new context. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to express my appreaation to Professor Tang Lee for his unending guidance and support. In particular, I am indebted to Professor Lee, and to Professor George Jergeas for their valuable comments and advice during this project. I would also like to thank all the members of the church committee whose insights were a contributing force in the MDP. I would like to thank my family and hiends for their continual support and encouragement. Special thanks goes to my parents, especially my father whose belief in education has made a positive impact on my family, to my sister Yvette, and to my brothers, Grant, Lance, and Tony, and to my nephew Liam, and my niece Emme and to my children Kyle and Braden. TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract Acknowledgments Table of Contents I. Introduction II. Lebanon and the History of the Maronites III. Designing for the Maronites in Calgary IV. Design Parameters 1. The Congregation 2. Building Size 3. Site Selection 4. Climate and Design V. The Design 1. The Entry 2. The Worship Space 3. The Hall 4. The Upper Level and the Parish Offices 5. The Lower Level 6. The Outside Spaces 7. Constructibility 8. Materials & Finishes VI. Drawing VII. Conclusions References Appendices Appendix 4: Minutes of Meetings i Appendix B: Architectural Programme xii Appendix C: Configuration & the Path xiii Path Q Space Relationships Appendix D: The Catholic Sacraments xvi Appendix E: Construction Cost Estimate xviii Time Frame & Tasks Appendix F: Mechanical System Appendix G: Suggestions for the Parish LIST OF FIGURES Title Figure Matoni te Sanctuary in the Holy Valley Hello Lebanon, A Guide for the InauirinnTraveler, page 98. Figure 1 Saint Maron Monastery Beaaa Valley Lebanon, Ministry of Tourism, page 8. Figure 2 Monastery of St. Eliseus Hello Lebanon, A Guide for the lnauirine Traveler, page 97. Figure 3 Former Maronite Patriarch Headquarters Hello Lebanon. A Guide for the Inauirin~Traveler, page 16. Figure 4 Map of the Lebanon Area The New York Times Atlas of the World, page 22. Figure 5 Mapof Lebanon Lebanon, Ministry of Tourism Brochure, page 1 Figure 67 The Beqaa Valley Beaaa Vallev. Lebanon, Ministry of Tourism Brochure Figures Sll The Cedars of Northern Lebanon Lebanon, Ministry of Tourism Brochure Figure 12 Bei taddi ne Palace Lebanon, Ministry of Tourism Brochure, page 10. Figure 13 hnastery of St. Anthony Qozhaya One Dav in Lebanon, The Holv Vallev Cladisha Figure 14 Old Church in Lebanon Lebanon, Ministry of Tourism Brochure Figures 1516 St. Sharbel Church and Monastery Pictures courtesy of Bernadette Chamoun Figures 17-19 New Church Under Construction Photos courtesy of Fadi Nasr Figure 20 Aerid Photograph, Signal Hill Foto Flight Aerial Photography, Photo it 102, 1997 Figure 21 Aerial Photograph, Signal Hill Foto Flight Aerial Photography, Photo # 102,1997 Figure 22 View of West Rooftops Signal Hill, Calgary Photo Vicky Couhue Figure 23 View to West Residences Photo Vicky Coubre Figure 24 View to the North, Commercial buildings Photo Vicky Couture Figure 25 View to the North, Signal Hill Library Photo Vicky Couture Figure 26 View from the South Photo Vicky Couture Figure 27 View horn the South Elevation of the site from Richmond Road. Photo Vicky Couture Figure 28 South escarpment of the site Photo Vicky Couture Figure 29 City pathway Signal Hill escarpment. Photo Vicky Couture Figure 30 Conceptual Sketch; Massing & Path Sketch Vicky Couture Figure 31 Path to St. SharbeI ,Lebanon Courtesy Bernadette Chamoun Figure 32 People Gathering Outside the Church Courtesy Bernadette Charnoun Figure 33 Maronite Monastery in Switzerland Syrian Calendar, Syrian Orthodox Church of Canada Figure 34 Conceptual Sketch; Spaces Sketch Vicky Couture Figure 35 Conceptual Sketck Massing B Site Model Vicky Couture Figure 36 Model South Elevation of The Entry Model Vicky Couture Figure 37 Model :Plan View Model Vicky Couture Figure 38 Patterns in Everyby Lebanon Photos Courtesy of Fadi Nasr Design Scrapbook Vicky Couture Figure 39 Mosaic in Lebanon Lghg(lPa Ministry of Tourism Brochure Figure 40 Jumblatt Palace, Lebanon Hello Lebanon. A Guide for the lnauirine Traveler, page 121. Figure 41 Jumblatt Palace, Lebanon Hello Lebanon. A Guide for the lnquirin~Traveler, page 121. Figure 42 Backyard Fountain, Private Residence, Lebanon Photos Courtesy of Fadi Nasr Figure 43 Trellis, Private Residence, Lebanon Photos Courtesy of Fadi Nasr Figure 44 Model: The North Entry Model Vicky Couture Figure 45 Model: The North Entry Model Vicky Couture Figure 46 Axonometnc of the Entry Space Drawing Vicky Couture Figure 47 Las Vegas Libray Antoine Predock Architect Antoine Predock Architect. page 101.