_DSC4296
Roman Catholic Boniface Church Almere NL.
Architects Jurgen Boonstra and Freerk Hoekstra of Royal HaskoningDHV - 2021
Almere was built at a time when church attendance was declining sharply. That is why it was decided to opt for ecumenical places of worship that Protestants and Catholics would make joint use of. Completely against the national trend, however, the number of Catholics in Almere has increased in recent years. This is mainly due to the rapid growth in the number of inhabitants in Almere, as well as to newcomers from countries where the Catholic faith is still widely practiced. Because of this increase, the Boniface parish needed its own church, where its own tradition can be visibly present. After years of preparation, the church is now in use. The architects opted for a classic starting point: a nave with two aisles and an apse at the end. Daylight has been chosen to enter the church from above. This gives a calming, sacred effect. That light also shines on the 72-meter-long artwork by Théodore Stravinsky that the church has purchased. That work was taken from a church in Almelo that has since disappeared. This artwork is incorporated into the top of the facade walls. The materials used for the church are often left unfinished, such as rough concrete, a laminated timber structure, wood paneling and rough masonry walls. The imposing artwork by Stravinksy enriches the art experience in Almere, so that the new church may be included in the art route.
_DSC4296
Roman Catholic Boniface Church Almere NL.
Architects Jurgen Boonstra and Freerk Hoekstra of Royal HaskoningDHV - 2021
Almere was built at a time when church attendance was declining sharply. That is why it was decided to opt for ecumenical places of worship that Protestants and Catholics would make joint use of. Completely against the national trend, however, the number of Catholics in Almere has increased in recent years. This is mainly due to the rapid growth in the number of inhabitants in Almere, as well as to newcomers from countries where the Catholic faith is still widely practiced. Because of this increase, the Boniface parish needed its own church, where its own tradition can be visibly present. After years of preparation, the church is now in use. The architects opted for a classic starting point: a nave with two aisles and an apse at the end. Daylight has been chosen to enter the church from above. This gives a calming, sacred effect. That light also shines on the 72-meter-long artwork by Théodore Stravinsky that the church has purchased. That work was taken from a church in Almelo that has since disappeared. This artwork is incorporated into the top of the facade walls. The materials used for the church are often left unfinished, such as rough concrete, a laminated timber structure, wood paneling and rough masonry walls. The imposing artwork by Stravinksy enriches the art experience in Almere, so that the new church may be included in the art route.