In contrast to the traditional church architecture, Orthodox Church is designed in a contemporary way keeping the tradition. The goal was to design a modern church, a modern interpretation of old churches, to distinguish between the old and the new, but to keep the tradition and the spirit, without affecting traditional churches and their history. If we look at the history of church architecture, we can say that it has the influence of the Raska and Moravian stylistic groups.
Name: Serbian orthodox church
Year: may 2021
Surface: 200 m²
Author: Architects MD (www.architectsmd.com) – Matija Djedovic
Place: Serbia
Light is one of the most universal and fundamental symbols. It is the spiritual and the divine, it is illumination and intelligence. Light is the source of goodness and the ultimate reality… Light is knowledge.
Light and shadow are two intangible components that can give a space or object a completely new quality and create a completely new atmosphere depending on the way it is used. From the earliest human dwellings like caves, through ancient buildings like the Pantheon, to today’s glass skyscrapers these two elements have remained one of the most important architectural means. Regarding to light, something sacred and spiritual, the portal of the church is designed in such a way as to invite the visitor to its sacred space – the church.
The church was designed as a single nave building with one central dome. It consists of a nave and a narthex. The altar space is set aside and separated by two columns. The apse of the altar space is semicircular both outside and inside. To the north of it is the proscomidia (for the preservation of sacred objects), and to the south the “djakonikon” (for the preservation of church objects).
There are no free pillars, so the interior is clear and unique. Strong pilasters leaning against the north and south walls, carrying cubes over the arches. The core of the church is a cubic – cubic pedestal – which consists of transverse and longitudinal walls that rise above the arches that support the cubes. Kube has a polygonal tambour above which is a dome. The transition from the square to the circular shape is done over the pendants inside the square base. The roof over the main nave is gabled.
According to the influence on the Raska style group, the external facade is treated with stone, in this case Siga. Precious stone – marble is also used.
Photo Gallery
Text and photos: © Architects MD (www.architectsmd.com) – Matija Djedovic