ART CATHEDRAL

Location: Kells Priory, Ireland

In Collaboration with : Eva Jiang, Ricky Yang, Yanxi Fu

HONORABLE MENTION for Young Architects Competitions

November 2022

The Cathedral in its various forms has always been the center of culture and art expression. Within layers of architecture lies different functions and aspects of life: living, creating, meditating etc. Our project aims to re-embrace the liveliness of the cathedral by bringing artist dwelling to its center, activating the historical landmark day and night.

Built upon the ruins of the cross, the residency allows artists to emerge their daily life into the heart of the cathedral, allowing them to sketch, communicate, and create within their shared space. Functions including a library and outdoor event space also opens up the residency to the public on special occasions.

A short walk through the residency, the artists will reach their workshops. Structures were hung by shear wall in the middle above the ruins, allowing them to continue their creative journey among the intersection of classic and contemporary space. Works, finished or unfinished, can be displayed freely in the outdoor gallery on the other side of the courtyard open for public-viewing.

The visitors will come in from the main entry of the complex, arriving at a small gallery with outdoor sculpture gardens and indoor auditorium. The grand corridor, an elevated gallery, curates a time-travel experience connecting the present and the past, the public and the private, and carries them into the ruins while providing the view to the whole site.

Our project creates an opportunity for communication between artists, visitors and the cathedral throughout time and space, enhancing the everlasting life of the art cathedral.