Inuce designs Mountain Church of Julong as “more than just a place of worship”

By Tom Ravenscroft

Architecture studio Inuce has created a church in the town of Julong near Quanzhou, China, which evokes the form of a biblical ark resting on a rock.

Located at the foot of a mountain surrounded by forest and with views across the town, the Mountain Church of Julong references both the form and representation of an ark.

“Biblical archetypes were fundamental in our design process,” Inuce founder Dirk U Moench told Dezeen.

“As a powerful symbol for shelter and new beginnings, the ark of salvation, safely landed on a foundation of rock, became the crystallisation point for our design,” he continued.

“The idea underlies all the essential architectural choices with regards to the church’s nave, defining its iconic form, colour palette, and, of course, its placement at the highest point of the site,” added Moench.

Built on a sloped site, the church steps up the hill with a series of four terraces clad in granite slabs to resemble a rocky outcrop.

Mountain Church of Julong’s main hall, which can host 1,000 worshipers, is placed at the top of the site and designed to look like an abstracted ark on top of the rock-like terraces.

Its oval shape is clad in scored glass-reinforced concrete (GCR) panels that also wrap around the circular entrance atrium.

At the front of the site, the building is raised to give access to the entrance atrium and topped with a viewpoint accessible to the public.

“While the ark motif sparked our design journey, we didn’t stop at symbolism,” explained Moench. “We aimed for an experience that would touch both body and soul.”

“So, we added an extra layer to the ark’s bow,” Moench continued. “Inspired by medieval tradition, visitors are embraced by a contemplative atrium before they enter the sanctuary.”

“Shaping this, we imagined the stern of the ark rising, revealing a vast space flooded by nature, a striking echo of Christ’s sermon on the mount,” he added.

Mountain Church of Julong is the first permanent church to be built in the town for a congregation that used to meet in a rented shop.

Aiming to create both a landmark and accessible space for the local community, Inuce incorporated a small library, study rooms and conference facilities within its lower-level rooms.

“Given the location at the foot of a mountain peak, the project had every chance to become a religious landmark,” explained Moench. “But being the first church in a newly developed city, it needed to be more than just a place of worship.”

“Making sure the design is inclusive, conveying a message of belonging addressed at the entire community, was at the heart of the congregation’s mission,” he continued.

“Moving forward, we envision the church becoming a cornerstone of Julong, fostering social cohesion as a space where people of all beliefs can gather, learn, and grow together.”

Mountain Church of Julong is the latest distinctive church designed by Inuce in China. It previously created a pink pebbledash church in Fuzhou and a church wrapped in 100,000 panes of stained glass in Luoyuan.

Moench believes that this trio is the exception in the country, as the majority of churches being built there are still informed by historical forms.

“Despite a few remarkable exceptions in recent years, the overwhelming majority of church projects in China remains bound by historical patterns, yielding places that are visibly foreign and isolated by protective walls,” he said.

“The Mountain Church breaks this mould, offering a glimpse into what Chinese churches are poised to become: vibrant hubs essential to the city’s social and spatial fabric, serving as points of identification for the entire community.”

The photography is courtesy of Inuce.

This article is originally available at www.dezeen.com