Chapel of Many

Craft

The kinematic, crafted object, placed into the hands of the public, is an act of trust that is reciprocated by those who interact with the structure and each other. The care with which the structure is crafted, stimulates an equal response of care. The public realm is re-invented as one of responsive respect, rather than robust anonymity. The warmth of the timber and the human scale of the elements creates a shared sense of ownership.

Chairs

The 90 bespoke folding chairs of the Chapel are assembled using European Oak using a combination of dowel pinned, mortice/tenon and finger joints. The Back and seat of the chairs are formed of perforated Marine Plywood, sitting in a continuous 5mm recess. Stainless Steel Dowel Pins are used as pivots and sliders.

Agency

Traversing the scale between furniture and building, reconciling the hand-constructed artefact, at human scale, with the built environment. This direct line between natural material, hand assemblage and the architectural building, facilitates the direct agency of the individual as a co-curator, not only in the constructed space but also in the object production.

Structure

The main structure of the Chapel is formed of a 15 vertical columns of timber arranged in a circle to create a self-contained structural system. The main vertical columns are created using 41mm Slotted Steel Channel, clad in 18mm Indonesian Marine Plywood. Extra rigidity is achieved through vertical fins.

Body, Object, Space

The body, object, space, relationship creates a new kind of public space, challenging the traditional role of the historic monument as the carrier of meaning within the public realm. As society revisits, and in some cases disrupts, the predominant historical narratives projected by the statues of powerful, predominantly male, imperialists, so the new structure celebrates the civic collective and the incremental sum of individual acts.

Fixings

The bespoke ‘turned’ aluminium components were developed in conjunction with engineering technicians Geoff Booth and Luke Trodden and produced in the EC building on the Coventry University Campus.