Traditional Architecture, Design and Documentation



Monday, November 22, 2010

The Catholic Foundation Wins Aesthetic Design Award


257 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio
 We are proud to announce The Catholic Foundation has won the Discovery Special Improvements District (SID) award for Outstanding Aesthetic Contribution for 2010.  The new foundation headquarters, designed by Meleca Architecture, is the former home to the original Wendy's restaurant, also known as "Wendy's #1".  


The redesign kept the original Wendy's structure intact - thus promoting historic preservation while adding texture to the urban landscape.


The Discovery SID, encompassing a 37 square block area on the east side of downtown Columbus, Ohio, is a private sector corporation that was created in 2007 by property owners who wanted to improve the safety and image of the Discovery District neighborhood.


Wednesday, November 10, 2010

St. Paul's Interior Architecture

We are in the final weeks of exterior construction on St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Westerville, Ohio.  


As winter months settle in, the focus will be on interior construction and finishes.  Much thought and meaning goes into interior architecture and material selection for a church, as liturgical architecture can enhance ones religious experience through the narration of religious stories interpreted in the form and ornamentation of a building.

Dr. Denis McNamara, in his book Catholic Church Architecture and the Spirit of the Liturgy, offers tremendous insight on how liturgical art and architecture should reflect heaven and earth united. 

He writes-
"Liturgical art and architecture are about the conveying of information about God and humanity's relationship to him in the sacred liturgy.  Central to this relationship is God's sharing of his divine life with his creation, and so liturgical architecture works as the image of heavenly realities: all is glorified, all is restored, all is radiant with grace.  Styles, movements, and fads in architecture are relevant only to the degree that the theological content which they express is made clear."

Through Dr. McNamara's teaching, we understand and believe interior architecture should reflect "not nature as it exists today, in its fallen condition, but nature as it will exist at the end of time - when it's completely restored and glorified." 

Based on this belief, below are some of the custom interior designs which symbolize the man the church was named after - St. Paul the Apostle. 



This is a mock-up of the large and small custom column capitals which will be used throughout the church.  The sword found in the capital is a symbol of St. Paul taking his faith around the world and conquering ignorance.  The book symbolizes St. Paul as a great author of biblical letters.  




Below is the custom pew end design including a tripartite window motif, which is a holy trinity symbol. 


This is the mock-up of the custom church pew end.

 


The above ceiling design represents that even creation will be glorified at the end of time.  The stars are not portrayed as timid, but rather most radiant and glorious.  The orderly geometric pattern of the stars speaks of their glorification and represents proportion and order.



 
A 3D rendering of what the interior will look like upon completion.
 
 

Monday, November 1, 2010

St Paul's Westerville, Ohio construction video




Construction video of St. Paul the Apostle, Westerville, Ohio.  The 1400 seat Catholic church designed by Meleca Architecture is scheduled for dedication June 2011.

Bensi Ristorante Italiano Wins 2010 Best Interior Design Award


Meleca Architecture has won Best Interior Design for 2010 in the Hampton Road Association for Commercial Real Estates (HRACRE) Excellence in Development Design Awards for Bensi Ristorante ItalianoThis is the major design and development award ceremony for the Hampton Roads region including areas such as, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Hampton, Newport News, and Williamsburg.










Bensi opened this past Spring in the Peninsula Town Center in Hampton, Virginia, developed by Steiner + Associates.  The 180-seat restaurant design theme is Italian Modern - which means modern forms with traditional detailing.