Private Family Chapel
Ohio
HarleyEllis

An intimately scaled worship space uses nature's idiom to illustrate the sacred

© Timothy Hursley

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This inwardly focused chapel was designed to serve the needs of a nuclear family whose strong sense of kinship and desire for privacy led to a centripetal plan solution. A series of concentric spaces establish a progression from outside to within, which is characterized by moving from cold to warm, from rough to refined, from dark to light, from hard to soft. This characterization is accomplished through material choices, transitions, and the use of natural and artificial light.

The building's exterior is clad in thermally finished granite, reflecting the harshness of nature. Upon entering, the space is defined by smooth plaster walls rendered in a subtly mottled, multicolored paint finish and mirror-polished granite floors leading to the chapel space. The innermost sanctum sanctorum, furthest removed from the outside environment, is a freestanding semicylinder of fine-finished ash, capped by a truncated cone of the same material.

Custom ash liturgical pieces and seating complement the integrity of this small, intimate wood structure within the stone building. A large skylight overhead illuminates the open-topped chapel, allowing a connection with the natural sky dome, but maintaining the sense of absolute separation from the earthly surroundings. Within this central setting, private services are held marking the most important family events.

Formal name of Project:
Private Family Chapel

Location:
Ohio

Size:
3,500 sq ft

Architect's firm:
HarleyEllis
26913 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 200
Southfield, MI 48034
248.262.1500 (telephone)
248.262.1515 (facsimile)
www.harleyellis.com