Prayer House of the Brethren Church in Prague 13
Thirteen - Christian Center Luka
The Brethren Church is an evangelical church that builds on the tradition of the Unity of the Brethren. It is also one of the few Czech Christian churches whose membership base is growing. Recently, two congregations/parishes built well-appointed new prayer houses/churches in Litomyšl and Černošice. In contrast, the congregation in Prague 13 offers a different story than the realization of new construction on greenfield land: it involves relocating from one rental to another.
Christians in Prague 13 established a separate parish/congregation without a meeting place. After three years of holding services in a physics classroom at a high school, they had the opportunity to rent emergency spaces near the Luka metro station and, after renovation, consolidate fragmented activities at a single address. The move was seen as an opportunity to tailor commercial spaces to their needs, even within the framework of greatly limited financial possibilities. The limitations, apart from the tiny budget, included the building itself, which was certified in the troubled year of 1989 as a purported commercial pavilion for the adjacent housing estate. There are no backbone installations; everything is constructed as if it were being repaired directly. Additionally, there was a requirement from the property owner for the installation of cassette ceilings, so they would have free access to chronically problematic installations, or a designated supplier of linoleum or perhaps the tracing of electricity through raceways. We accepted this limitation as part of the interior concept. At the same time, we deliberately avoided the attempt at “churchification” of the spaces and their transformation into a place that easily moves atheists. We were more interested in a civil environment with a slightly disconcerting undertone that invites freedom rather than quotes from the sacred memory of architecture that indicate stereotypes of “pious” behavior. Avoiding established notions of the environment in which Christians present themselves was made possible by the direct order of the investor, whose aim is to break stereotypes not only about Christianity in the housing estates of Prague 13.
The adjustment of the layout was guided by the minimization of costly construction interventions relative to the achieved operational efficiency. Two areas of the skeleton are occupied by the prayer hall, while another area forms the back part of the hall, which serves for parents with children during Sunday services and as a mother center during the week. The complex also includes the pastor's office, three additional offices, two club rooms, two kitchens, a high-capacity sanitary facility including a shower, and in time, a bouldering wall will be added.
The entrance area to the prayer hall is designed appropriately for the “housing estate” context, in which interventions of the type tag and graffiti will gradually increase. We had the giant underwear and bra on the concrete wall opposite the entrance painted blue and painted on it – somewhat provocatively – the silhouette of an old evangelical church. The rest was treated with spray paints of the congregation's logo through a stencil. We have already received reactions such as scrawling over the cross or spilling paint on the sidewalk in front of the entrance. We consider this a legitimate part of expression in an anonymous public space within unfortunate urban contexts; neither we nor the investor have a problem with it. Throughout the processing of the project, it was publicly presented and consulted with the entire community, and feasible outcomes were incorporated. Final touches and interior arrangements took place with the voluntary assistance of congregation members. The chairs are financed from a separate collection under the slogan “buy your chair”. Responses from users to what they call an “extreme approach to the interior” are favorable, and interest in subletting to other Christian organizations continues to grow after the initial months of operation. The official name of the complex is now Třináctka - Christian Center Luka.
Christians in Prague 13 established a separate parish/congregation without a meeting place. After three years of holding services in a physics classroom at a high school, they had the opportunity to rent emergency spaces near the Luka metro station and, after renovation, consolidate fragmented activities at a single address. The move was seen as an opportunity to tailor commercial spaces to their needs, even within the framework of greatly limited financial possibilities. The limitations, apart from the tiny budget, included the building itself, which was certified in the troubled year of 1989 as a purported commercial pavilion for the adjacent housing estate. There are no backbone installations; everything is constructed as if it were being repaired directly. Additionally, there was a requirement from the property owner for the installation of cassette ceilings, so they would have free access to chronically problematic installations, or a designated supplier of linoleum or perhaps the tracing of electricity through raceways. We accepted this limitation as part of the interior concept. At the same time, we deliberately avoided the attempt at “churchification” of the spaces and their transformation into a place that easily moves atheists. We were more interested in a civil environment with a slightly disconcerting undertone that invites freedom rather than quotes from the sacred memory of architecture that indicate stereotypes of “pious” behavior. Avoiding established notions of the environment in which Christians present themselves was made possible by the direct order of the investor, whose aim is to break stereotypes not only about Christianity in the housing estates of Prague 13.
The adjustment of the layout was guided by the minimization of costly construction interventions relative to the achieved operational efficiency. Two areas of the skeleton are occupied by the prayer hall, while another area forms the back part of the hall, which serves for parents with children during Sunday services and as a mother center during the week. The complex also includes the pastor's office, three additional offices, two club rooms, two kitchens, a high-capacity sanitary facility including a shower, and in time, a bouldering wall will be added.
The entrance area to the prayer hall is designed appropriately for the “housing estate” context, in which interventions of the type tag and graffiti will gradually increase. We had the giant underwear and bra on the concrete wall opposite the entrance painted blue and painted on it – somewhat provocatively – the silhouette of an old evangelical church. The rest was treated with spray paints of the congregation's logo through a stencil. We have already received reactions such as scrawling over the cross or spilling paint on the sidewalk in front of the entrance. We consider this a legitimate part of expression in an anonymous public space within unfortunate urban contexts; neither we nor the investor have a problem with it. Throughout the processing of the project, it was publicly presented and consulted with the entire community, and feasible outcomes were incorporated. Final touches and interior arrangements took place with the voluntary assistance of congregation members. The chairs are financed from a separate collection under the slogan “buy your chair”. Responses from users to what they call an “extreme approach to the interior” are favorable, and interest in subletting to other Christian organizations continues to grow after the initial months of operation. The official name of the complex is now Třináctka - Christian Center Luka.
The English translation is powered by AI tool. Switch to Czech to view the original text source.
0 comments
add comment
