Eero Saarinen's Firestone Baars Chapel: Poetics of a Sacred Place

Abstract

OBJECTIVEThe objectives of this criticism are to provide a brief history and description of the Chapel, review the coincidence between expression and interpretation through functionalist and formalist approaches, make conjectures about the origin of the Chapel's interior, and draw conclusions about the poetic qualities of the Chapel's humanistically conceived space.The above objectives are met by reviewing original archival material, conducting on-site observations, interviewing current and retired faculty, and documenting the interior space through photographs. A N A L Y S I STwo types of analysis focus on the interior. The first is historical with regards to the Chapel's conception and the origin of its form. The second uses a framework for criticism that is based on the search for coincidence between the expression and interpretation of the Chapel's space. K E Y FINDINGSThe criticism articulates why this inconspicuous Chapel radiates poetics of a sacred place.

From Chapel to Meditation Room: A Case Study of Religion and Spirituality on Campus

“…This study also borrowed from Schwarz and Brent (1997) who critiqued Saarinen's Firestone Baars Chapel partially through the lens of functionalism. Acknowledging that the critic is not fully capable of interpreting the designer's original intent, later observation and understanding relies on an assessment of how a structure performs based on programmatic intent.…”

“…Acknowledging that the critic is not fully capable of interpreting the designer's original intent, later observation and understanding relies on an assessment of how a structure performs based on programmatic intent. In this earlier case study, Schwarz and Brent (1997) built on the work of Mitchell (1990) who suggested "a description of form tells what an object is, while a functional description tells what it accomplishes" (p. 183). Furthermore, Mitchell (1990) pointed out that context matters, and the functional description of architecture may change over time as the context in which it exists shifts.…”

“…In addition, in their 1997 study, Schwarz and Brent noted that "the human need for sacred places-sites that have been sanctified by holy rituals, relics, and saints-stretches back to the beginning of recorded history" (p. 39). As an example of this, Schwarz and Brent (1997) identified the Firestone Baars Chapel of Stephens College as a symbol of this need, writ large. Finally, Hayes (1983) argued that, while the shape and form of the physical structure may vary, the inherent understanding of the vocabulary that accompanies churches renders them symbols of religious worship.…”

“…Collectively, the interior and architectural strategies utilized in The Helen Mauck Galbreath Memorial Chapel are considered a part of the functional assessment suggested by the earlier work of Schwarz and Brent (1997) and their study of Saarinen's Firestone Baars Chapel. In their study, Schwarz and Brent (1997) concluded that "the design of the Chapel was never meant to match the specific worshipping needs and rituals of a particular religious group" (p. 43); yet, in this case study, the same conclusion cannot be suggested.…”

“…Collectively, the interior and architectural strategies utilized in The Helen Mauck Galbreath Memorial Chapel are considered a part of the functional assessment suggested by the earlier work of Schwarz and Brent (1997) and their study of Saarinen's Firestone Baars Chapel. In their study, Schwarz and Brent (1997) concluded that "the design of the Chapel was never meant to match the specific worshipping needs and rituals of a particular religious group" (p. 43); yet, in this case study, the same conclusion cannot be suggested. Drawing again from Schwarz and Brent (1997) and the suggestion that it is likely not possible to know the designer's original intent years later, we might surmise that Saarinen's Chapel is more restrained in borrowing from tradition given the designer's interest in defining a new architectural tradition, while Perry, Shaw, and Hepburn and Kehoe and Dean, designers of The Helen Mauck Galbreath Memorial Chapel, were relying on traditions of the past and seeking an architectural form that would blend in with the campus landscape rather than stand out as a beacon to the future.…”