SMILA CHURCH - CULTURAL CENTER
Project team: Andriy Mohyla, Anastasiia Ivchenko, Natasha Bhan-Marchenko
Location: Smila, Ukraine
Area: 10 600 sq.m
Year: 2022
Photo-video credits: Vadym Sapatrylo
You'll find out more of our projects here: www.citek.net
ABOUT
Citek Design Studio has been commissioned to design an iconic landmark in Smila – a modern church with landscaping of the adjacent territory. This project is not just about building a church, but about creating a new meaning for the city, a precedent for its further development.
Smila, like many provincial Ukrainian cities, suffers from a shortage of high-quality urban spaces. Residents live in the legacy of the Soviet era, surrounded by architecture that has not undergone revitalization. They lack the opportunity to travel and experience the best examples of architecture and design, which negatively affects the demand for a quality urban environment.
A striking example of this problem is the reconstruction of the facade of the House of Culture in the city center. Instead of restoration, the original facade was ruthlessly destroyed. At the same time, the entrance group, which required a rethinking and update of functional solutions, remained unchanged.
This is why the main challenge for our team in this project was to implement a modern approach to the design of urban spaces in Smila. We wanted to create not just a church, but a landmark that would become a center of attraction for the townspeople, a place for meetings and spiritual development.
LOCATION
The design area is located in the center of Smila. Next to other cultural buildings such as the House of Culture, Local History Museum, City Administration.
DESIGN TASKS AND CHALLENGES
Our task was to design an open multifunctional space for a Christian church in the city center. The site allocated for construction was previously used as a technical yard for servicing the House of Culture building and neighboring utility buildings, and there are also abandoned city bomb shelters on the territory.
Initially, the task was to design only the church. However, it became clear that the appearance of a new cultural building would require comprehensive landscaping of the territory.
The church should have an open square in front and convenient access to the central street with a public transport stop. This significantly expanded the scope of the project, so it was decided to divide it into stages for implementation.
Stage 0 - Territory research
Stage 1 - General concept of territory development
Stage 2 - Church building design
Stage 3 - Landscaping project near the church and access to the main street
Stage 4 - Landscaping project near the bomb shelters
Stage 5 - Landscaping project near the House of Culture
TERRITORY RESEARCH
LAND OWNERSHIP & USERS.
Having surveyed the boundaries of the territory and identified the four owners (the city, the owner of the House of Culture, the owner of the church, and the owner of the utility buildings), we clearly outlined the limitations for each part of the site.
Having surveyed the boundaries of the territory and identified the four owners (the city, the owner of the House of Culture, the owner of the church, and the owner of the utility buildings), we clearly outlined the limitations for each part of the site.
PEDESTRIAN AND CAR TRAFFIC TRAJECTORIES.
Analysis of pedestrian and traffic flow patterns revealed that the existing space is used primarily for car traffic, parking, and loading. Even the main square in front of the House of Culture served as a parking lot, while the backyard was used for bus traffic and unloading scenery. Pedestrians were forced to walk along the main street between parked cars, with no reason to go into the courtyard, which had no attractions for city dwellers. The abandoned bomb shelters were also not in use for their intended purpose.
Analysis of pedestrian and traffic flow patterns revealed that the existing space is used primarily for car traffic, parking, and loading. Even the main square in front of the House of Culture served as a parking lot, while the backyard was used for bus traffic and unloading scenery. Pedestrians were forced to walk along the main street between parked cars, with no reason to go into the courtyard, which had no attractions for city dwellers. The abandoned bomb shelters were also not in use for their intended purpose.
LANDSCAPING CONCEPT
It was clear that the space was used exclusively for the needs of cars and building maintenance, as there were no interesting places for people here. With the appearance of the church and the landscaping of the adjacent territory, the situation will change radically, as there will be attractions that will make this place attractive to the townspeople.
The main goal of this stage was to transform the space into a pedestrian-friendly zone by removing vehicles.
The parking lot was moved outside the church grounds, using a vacant area behind the bomb shelter.The bomb shelter mound visually hides the cars, freeing up space for pedestrians.The owners of the House of Culture were offered alternative parking spaces to permanently clear this area of cars.
Access to this area is restricted to special vehicles serving the House of Culture. A bicycle parking area has been set up near the church building for the convenience of cyclists.
A well-lit pedestrian path has been created leading from the main street to the square in front of the church.
The space has been filled with seating areas, a children's playground, and a water feature that adds aesthetics and coziness to the area.
The exterior of the old substation has been updated and integrated into the overall design of the space, not only improving the aesthetics but also making the substation safer.
Instead of traditional lawns that require constant care, it was proposed to use grasses. These plants are low-maintenance, have an attractive appearance, and blend harmoniously into the landscape.
CHURCH BUILDING CONCEPT
Modern churches have transcended their traditional role as mere places of worship. Today, they are evolving into multifunctional spaces that serve as hubs for spiritual, cultural, and social life for people of all ages and interests. This transformation is evident in the very architecture of these buildings.
Upon entering the church grounds, visitors are greeted by a small yet inviting plaza. This area serves as a social hub, where people can connect with friends, fellow congregants, or simply relax after a service or before attending an event.
Upon entering the church grounds, visitors are greeted by a small yet inviting plaza. This area serves as a social hub, where people can connect with friends, fellow congregants, or simply relax after a service or before attending an event.
The main hall of the church can accommodate up to 350 visitors. The majority of the seating – 250 – is located on comfortable pews in the parterre. Another 100 seats are located on the balcony, which provides an excellent view of the entire hall.
The hall does not have windows, as its lighting is provided by a skylight on the roof and artificial lighting. This allows for flexible adjustment of the lighting depending on the event taking place. On sunny days, sunlight penetrates the hall through the skylight, creating a sense of connection with nature.
The stage, equipped with a modern sound system and special lighting, serves as a venue for worship services, concerts, theatrical performances, and other events. A large screen located on the stage allows for the projection of images and videos, making events even more dynamic and engaging. Next to the stage is an auxiliary room for convenient storage of equipment and decorations.
The main hall is designed with materials that emphasize an atmosphere of intimacy and peace. The dark gray color of the walls visually expands the space, while the natural wood slats add warmth and coziness.
Concert of the academic symphony orchestra of the Cherkasy Philharmonic
CONCEPT OF THE TERRITORY NEAR THE CHURCH BUILDING
The church is surrounded by open space, with a small inner courtyard enclosed by a concrete fence. This courtyard is used for hosting intimate events.
A small parking lot is located near the building, cleverly hidden from view by a hedge and a fountain with a metal cross installation. The niche between the church fence and the substation wall serves as a convenient parking spot for bicycles.
The old substation building has been painted in a dark color and decorated with slats that imitate wooden siding. This has allowed the structure to be visually disguised and максимально it from the foreground.
A playground, numerous seating areas, a drinking fountain, and decorative grasses have also been installed on the church grounds.
Due to the fact that the church is located in the back of the plot, it was important to create clear navigation and a simple, safe path to it.
We proposed to equip the alley with pergolas illuminated. At night they will serve as a source of lighting, and during the day - an interesting installation that will attract people's attention.
The alley is quite long, we added seating along it, placing them near the existing concrete fence.
Wildflowers were chosen for landscaping the alley, which create an atmosphere of naturalness, simplicity and ease of care.
An important part of the project was also the installation of an information stele.
CONCEPT OF THE TERRITORY NEAR THE SHELTERS
The area around the bomb shelters was divided into two functional zones to maximize its use. The first zone - a parking lot - is located near the existing fence, providing convenient access to parking spaces. The embankment of the bomb shelter visually hides the cars from sight, making the space more aesthetic and comfortable. It is proposed to use gravel or crushed stone as a covering for this zone.
photo credits: Pinterest
CONCEPT OF THE AREA IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE OF CULTIRE
An investigation of the square in front of the House of Culture revealed significant potential for its improvement and active use. The raised area in front of the main entrance to the building, paved with tiles, is currently underutilized. The lower level of the square, also paved with asphalt, serves as a parking lot for cars, making this area extremely hot during the summer months.
The space in front of the main entrance has been revitalized and greened. Large potted plants have been placed to create shade. Cars have been removed from this area, and comfortable seating areas have been added for people to relax and socialize.
Electronic billboards have been installed to provide information about upcoming events at the House of Culture.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
At this stage, the construction of the church and the landscaping around it have been completed.
The next stage is the landscaping of the area around the bomb shelters, the lighting of the alley, and the revitalization of the square in front of the House of Culture.
