Meetinghouse
The following excerpt beautifully describes
Our Meetinghouse and Grounds:
By Jane F.
Kolleeny - This is an excerpt of an article from the
February 2008 edition of Architectural Record.
The
Friends Meetinghouse is designed to feel detached from its urban
context and to nurture the silence
and simplicity that figure prominently in the Quaker way of life.
To achieve a quiet, contemplative setting for meditative
worship on a site
bordered by busy roads and an apartment complex, the L-shaped
building was tucked into the gently sloped site, oriented
away from the traffic, and surrounded by
native plants,
mesquite, and acacia trees.
The design
of the main
gathering hall, located at the back, is inspired by the
functional and simple spaces of early meetinghouses, which also
served as community gathering spaces. Built with native,
sustainable, and simple materials, this meetinghouse expresses the
essence of Quaker spirituality
and offers a secluded garden setting suitable for contemplation,
worship, and community activities.
The design is a simple symmetry of forms of unadorned, natural
materials, drawing inspiration from timeless Quaker meeting houses
shaped by similar needs. The exterior of the main gathering hall is
clad in horizontal siding made of extremely durable, low-maintenance
material derived from recycled paper—a modern, sustainable
interpretation of vernacular design. A metal gambrel roof, with
exposed interior wood roof trusses, creates a barn-like effect
inside. Interior walls and ceiling are finished in cedar slats over
acoustical sound barriers made of recycled material.
Clerestory
windows top the gabled entry wall on the west. Beneath the
deep-hanging roof eaves, the south and north walls feature high
windows, allowing daylight and breezes to ventilate the space. Floor
to ceiling glass to the east, creates openness and lightness and
offers a tranquil view of woodland. The meetinghouse pays tribute to
the Friends’ belief that worshipers ought not to be distracted by
the activities of the world outside.
Arriving visitors approach the small complex on a path that meanders through native shrubs and mature mesquite and acacia trees. As one walks the circuitous, gently sloped, path, the gradual descent and approach allows the mind to settle, shedding the busyness of daily life until one arrives at a heavy wooden gate set in a thick stone perimeter wall. The material of the wall is local limestone which lends an air of permanence to the premises, while also calling to mind the nearby Colonial Spanish missions, which are surrounded by similar enclosures. Inside the gate, one strolls along a covered portico stretching along a wing housing a series of small rooms, including a nursery and a library. A garden courtyard is on the right and the main meeting space is to the back. The path, the gate, and the portico quietly lead to the main hall, where Friends gather to practice attentive silence.
Meeting Room foyer Ken & Jim T. our Project Mgr.
Timber Framing
Entrance Pathway
Meetinghouse Coutyard