In the outskirts of Rome, in the middle of a rather run-down housing district, Richard Meier's Jubilee Church stands out as a strong yet simple and clear symbol of purity, rejuvenation and hope. While the church may at first seem inappropriate and out-of-context with the surrounding architecture, the church was built in a more destitute part of Rome to signify the openness of the church to the all people of all races and social standings as well as all members of the community, despite the church's Catholic orientation. The axis from the front of the building through to the rear is uninterrupted by interior walls allowing light to flood the church on a sunny day. The white material used to construct the Jubilee was engineered specifically for the project to be self-cleaning in order to maintain the building's aura of purity and cleanliness, which is essential to the concept of the church. Also, because of the unusual curve of the building's fins, the construction process was thoroughly documented and closely observed by architects and tourists alike. Meier's work demonstrates not only the power and beauty that simple yet compositionally strong design can have, but also the relationship between the building materials and the essence of the architecture and how the concept conveyed in the final product is so greatly affected by the materials used to construct it.
Sarah Wade
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