The church building of the future is cyclical and ever evolving, as designers experimentwith and create new options. As design morphs, so do interior finishes and fixtures that cater toa diverse group of attendees.
As 2020 hits the summer mark, here's how interior design is taking shape in the church setting, in five key ways.
1-Connection, interaction, inclusion
Church designers are aware of the shift towards connectivity and interaction, observes Sharon Exley, co-founder of Architecture is Fun in Chicago. Spaces are designed to help promote well-being and inclusion.
“Smaller auditoriums, pods within public space, and communal seating celebrate the human connection," Exley says. "Creating smaller group scenarios where socialization can be enhanced builds community and allows people to be noticed and seen.”
As designaccommodates greatersocial interaction and results in more intimate worship spaces,“there is a focus on smaller worship spaces within the 800- to 1.500-seat range,” says Lisa Masteller, founder of SassafrasStudios.
2-Color flourishes
Color brings eye-catching combinations, away from neutral tones to more dramatic shades. “We love when the colors of the year are playing leading roles, from Pantone’s Living Coral (Pantone Color of the Year) to Benjamin Moore’s Metropolitan,” says Exley. “Yellow popped up all over the NeoCon show this year, surprising us with its versatility and sun-shiny positivity. We’re seeing lots of blues and Euro-greens brightening up our previous grey cafés, kitchens and lunchrooms. For me, color can reflect the culture and attitudes we want to project. Color is a way to inject spirit and vitality or to infuse calm and serenity. When the 2020 colors are announced, we’ll ponder how they can add harmony or cacophony to our palette – and we advocate for both.”
"For me, color can reflect the culture and attitudes we want to project. Color is a way to inject spirit and vitality or to infuse calm and serenity." Sharon Exley, Co-Founder, Architecture is Fun, Chicago, IL
3-Mixed-media finishes
There is no longer a set of rules to go by, in which most facilities were saturated between rustic and industrial, says Masteller. Today’s material color trends transcend churches and impactother spaces, and there is a growth of compelling combinations of styles. The mixed-media approach creates eye-catching contrast and is making a definitesplash in 2019.
The materials that Masteller sees include mixed metals: “Matte brass to burnished and raw steel; from gray to warm browns plained with a smoother finish or chamfered edge; Organic such as Geodes and natural concrete and Terrazzo finishes playing with natural textures; Pattern Play offering an equal use of vibrant and soft hues in larger geometric patterns, plants and florals; and Graphic featuring an obscure use of collage and gradients. And the use of reclaimed materials.”
4-Interactive play and learning embraces young adults
Active engagement targeting young adults is huge, observes Exley. “Last year we won an award for the design of the Pyramid Bench which blurs the boundaries between public space and exhibit, furniture and interactive object, and play and learning. This year, we’re optimizing the design for young adults. This version gears up to permit gaming, charges digital tools, instigates Selfie moments, uses social media platforms such as Instagram, and connects users with face-to-face fun. Its modularity allows the bench to be re-arranged by users to optimize personal control or to change-up their environment to what suits them best at the moment.”
5-Communal spaces have transformed to accommodate every generation
"Churches have a tendency to like a grid of sofas, squares of seating, sat-on carpet squares. Perhaps breaking the grid, adding those curves, non-linear paths and pods of socialization might help create a more familial environment, especially in large church lobbies." Sharon Exley, Co-Founder, Architecture is Fun, Chicago, IL
Exley observes that we’ve long steered away from calling public space "the lobby,” saying, “These are the village greens, the living rooms, the places to feel welcomed. We’re studying co-working spaces that optimize public space so well by breaking it down into smaller, more personal zones."
She adds, "Churches have a tendency to like a grid of sofas, squares of seating, sat-on carpet squares. Perhaps breaking the grid, adding those curves, non-linear paths and pods of socialization might help create a more familial environment, especially in large church lobbies. We are capturing the messier vitality of what a living room can be and adding in those personal expressions of home."
Erica Cottrill
Erica Cottrill is an Atlanta-based freelance writer. She can be reached at ericafpc@gmail.com.
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