罗源城郊战区是福建省的一个县城，以茶阶、客家少数民族及其独特的环形建筑“土楼”而闻名于世。目前，该镇正在迅速扩张，取代了当地的居民点，建立了工厂和住宅区。自2011年以来，罗源圣公会一直致力于在其中一个地区建造一座教堂。

At the Battlezone Between City and Countryside Luoyuan is a county-town in Fujian, a province famous for tea terraces, its Hakka-minority and their distinct ring-shaped architecture, the so-called “Tulou”. Currently, the town is expanding quickly, replacing the vernacular settlements and with factories and residential districts. Since 2011 the Anglican Congregation of Luoyuan is devoting its resources to building a church in one of these districts.

At the Battlezone Between City and Countryside Luoyuan is a county-town in Fujian, a province famous for tea terraces, its Hakka-minority and their distinct ring-shaped architecture, the so-called “Tulou”. Currently, the town is expanding quickly, replacing the vernacular settlements and with factories and residential districts. Since 2011 the Anglican Congregation of Luoyuan is devoting its resources to building a church in one of these districts.

 Floor plan

一个小社区和它的使命期待着许多年轻的夫妇与孩子们住在未来的住宅区里，新教堂清楚地处理了年轻的信徒“需要为他们的孩子建立一个安全和培育的环境。它的有区别的项目不仅包括父母和儿童的各个服务场所，而且还包括所有年龄组、管理员以及图书馆和茶馆的活动室。这个项目的具体挑战在于克服两个两分法：一方面，将这种混合使用建筑的复杂和世俗的要求与一个礼拜场所的体面存在结合起来。另一方面，为了在这个日益匿名的环境中保持传统和当地的真实性，同时为福建农村的快速增长的基督徒做一个标志性的、面向未来的声明。

A Little Community and Its Mission Anticipating many young couples with children to live in the future residential neighbourhoods, the new church distinctly addresses young believers’ need of a safe and nurturing environment for their children. Its differentiated program includes not only individual service venues for parents and children, but also activity rooms for all age groups, admin as well as a library and a tea house. The particular challenge of this project lies in overcoming two dichotomies: On one hand, to integrate the complex and mundane requirements of such a mixed-use building with the dignified presence of a place of worship. On the other, to retain a sense of tradition and local authenticity in this increasingly anonymous environment, while making an iconic and future-oriented statement for the fast-growing number of Christians in Fujian’s countryside.

A Little Community and Its Mission Anticipating many young couples with children to live in the future residential neighbourhoods, the new church distinctly addresses young believers’ need of a safe and nurturing environment for their children. Its differentiated program includes not only individual service venues for parents and children, but also activity rooms for all age groups, admin as well as a library and a tea house. The particular challenge of this project lies in overcoming two dichotomies: On one hand, to integrate the complex and mundane requirements of such a mixed-use building with the dignified presence of a place of worship. On the other, to retain a sense of tradition and local authenticity in this increasingly anonymous environment, while making an iconic and future-oriented statement for the fast-growing number of Christians in Fujian’s countryside.

 Tulou courtyard. Image © Shikai, Dengxie Xiang, INUCE

土楼庭院。图片：石凯，邓喜祥，INUCE

在这样的荒凉中，新的圣所必须成为摆脱变化世界折磨的避难所，在这个地方，需要帮助的人可以找到和平来治愈。因此，实现的设计模仿了当地信徒熟悉的特点：土楼的类型学元素，如它围绕着一个有亭的庭院的同心组织，或邻近乡村的特色，如教堂周围的茶道。通过这种方式，教会体现了以社区为基础的传统生活方式-保留了对这个地方日渐衰落的农村身份的一瞥-并创造了一种环境，让信徒们能够感受到与基督教家庭的交流，而他们的孩子则在受保护的环境中安全地学习和玩耍。

Transcending the Desolation through both Company and Solitude Placed in the midst of such desolation, the new sanctuary must become a refuge from the torments of a changing world, a place where those in need can find the peace to heal. The realized design therefore emulates characteristics that local believers are familiar with: Typological elements of the vernacular Tulou, such as its concentric organization around a courtyard with pavilion or features of the adjacent countryside such as tea terraces surrounding the church. In this manner the church embodies the traditional community-based lifestyle – retaining a glimpse of the place ‘s fading rural identity - and creates an environment where believers can feel in communion with their Christian family while their children learn and play safely within a protected environment.

Transcending the Desolation through both Company and Solitude Placed in the midst of such desolation, the new sanctuary must become a refuge from the torments of a changing world, a place where those in need can find the peace to heal. The realized design therefore emulates characteristics that local believers are familiar with: Typological elements of the vernacular Tulou, such as its concentric organization around a courtyard with pavilion or features of the adjacent countryside such as tea terraces surrounding the church. In this manner the church embodies the traditional community-based lifestyle – retaining a glimpse of the place ‘s fading rural identity - and creates an environment where believers can feel in communion with their Christian family while their children learn and play safely within a protected environment.

反之，服务厅则代表了一个静坐空间，由两个正面组成，共有107 707块传统彩色玻璃。所描绘的艺术作品“德普芬迪斯”是由建筑师与空间结合设计的，它散发着一种深蓝色的氛围，把信徒带到海底深处的一个隐喻的地方，在那里，可怕的黑暗被一种神圣的光环驱散。在未来，内面和外立面之间的空隙将被用来人为地点亮玻璃，从而将夜晚的教堂变成一个向内和向外发光的灯塔。面积1412平方米，是中国最大的彩色玻璃外墙，也是世界上最大的彩色玻璃外墙。经过七年多的建设，这座教堂现在已接近完工，并将在2019年春季前举行圣洁仪式。

Conversely, the service hall represents a space of meditative seclusion composed of two facades with a total of 107 707 individual pieces of traditional stained glass. The depicted artwork “De Profundis” was designed by the architect in union with the space; it exudes an atmosphere of profound blue, carrying believers away to a metaphorical place deep down at the bottom of the ocean, in which daunting darkness is dispersed by an aura of divine light. In the future the void between inner and outer facades will be used to artificially light up the glass, thus transforming the church at night into a beacon shining inwards and outwards. With 1412 sqm of surface area, it constitutes the largest stained-glass façade in China and one of the largest of its kind in the world. After more than seven years of construction the church is now nearly completed and will be consecrated by Spring 2019.

Conversely, the service hall represents a space of meditative seclusion composed of two facades with a total of 107 707 individual pieces of traditional stained glass. The depicted artwork “De Profundis” was designed by the architect in union with the space; it exudes an atmosphere of profound blue, carrying believers away to a metaphorical place deep down at the bottom of the ocean, in which daunting darkness is dispersed by an aura of divine light. In the future the void between inner and outer facades will be used to artificially light up the glass, thus transforming the church at night into a beacon shining inwards and outwards. With 1412 sqm of surface area, it constitutes the largest stained-glass façade in China and one of the largest of its kind in the world. After more than seven years of construction the church is now nearly completed and will be consecrated by Spring 2019.

 Main Facade under construction. Image © Shikai, Dengxie Xiang, INUCE

施工中的主要立面。形象C.Shikai,Dengxie向,INCE

 Diagram_stained glass

图_染色玻璃

 Stained glass facade. Image © Shikai, Dengxie Xiang, INUCE

彩色玻璃正面。图片：石凯，邓喜祥，INUCE