Gethsemane Lutheran Church | Olson Kundig

The design for this richly complex project enhances the Gethsemane Lutheran Church’s already significant presence in downtown Seattle by updating an existing 1950s building and integrating it with the other program elements (worship, housing and social services). Olson Kundig Architects led the remodel of the building’s exterior and the church’s main sanctuary, as well as the design of the chapel, garden, and the Parish Life Center. Executive architect SMR led the design of the affordable housing units and the Hope Center. Multi-colored metal and glass bands weave the varied programs into a single visual tapestry. From a distance, portions of the metal tapestry, with a copper/gold finish, create oversized cross forms, while up close, the warm-toned handcrafted glass windows of the chapel cast an intimate natural light onto the street. The chapel is made of a mosaic of clear, translucent and colored glass which creates a beacon of light. A small meditation garden adjoins the chapel and fellowship hall, balancing openness with outreach. Near the entrance to the church, a statue of Christ will stand in a small garden creating a “sidewalk chapel” for passersby.