South Africa and The Award-Winning Floating Chapel

south africa is more than just safaris or human rights issues after years of apartheid.

drawing poetic inspiration from psalm 36:7, the crisp white form of bosjes chapel is conceived as a lightweight and dynamic structure which appears to float within the valley — supported by a reflective pond that emphasizes the weightlessness of the building’s construction. the building seems as if it rises from the flat land to make focal point within its surroundings.

the award winning bosjes chapel

when designing the chapel, coetzee steyn, a south african born and founder of london-based steyn studio, did not hesitate to leave his studio in london and work onsite.

the sculptural form of the bosjes emulates a silhouette of surrounding mountain range, paying tribute to the historic cape dutch. the overall design has brought the project to global recognition and awards, like the 2019 architizer a+ popular choice within the religious buildings & memorials category.

also read:

a look to the mashrabiya style pattern for dubai expo 2020 entrance gate