Church Presentation Speech

I am Richard Hassell, of WOHA Architects. WOHA has been working on the design of St Mary of the Angels since 1999. Over the last 5 years, many people have wanted to find out why the church looks the way it does, so I am going to explain a few of the ideas behind the design. The design was not based on a preconceived image but arose through several themes and requirements:

• The first requirements were those published by the Catholic Church since the Second Vatican Council in 1962. These suggested the concept of a church in the round, like the ancient Christian churches, which were a circle of people gathered around the altar.
• The second theme was the life of St Francis, who took his message outside the church into the community. This inspired the idea of the church as an open, bright, outdoor space that is more like a public square than an enclosed building.
• The third theme was the church of St Francis of Assissi in Italy, the head church of the Franciscan Order. This ancient church, perched on top of a hill, with its collonades, lawns, staircases and clustered buildings, suggested how we could link the various parts of the development together.
• The fourth theme was Singapore’s tropical climate, and how outdoor and in-between spaces can be pleasant and usable spaces for many kinds of gatherings, processions and ceremonies. This inspired the central forecourt and walkways, the ramps and columbarium, and the huge porch outside the church.
• The fifth theme was community space. In land-scarce Singapore, these important spaces are often omitted. In the case of St Mary’s, where the land was available, we seized the opportunity to create various places of different scales where people can meet, chat, and build a community.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Father Philip, the Building Committee and members of the Parish for their unceasing energy and patience explaining (often many times) how a church works, and trusting us with finding the right built form for these requirements. We hope that Father Philip’s innovative ideas combined with our creative approach have resulted in a place of worship that is of its time and place, is practical, and beautiful.

I hope that I have given some understanding of the design. It gives me great pleasure to present the plans of the church to the Provincial of the Franciscan Order, Father Stephen Bliss. Thank you.