America's Favorite Architecture

Having received the AIA Twenty-five Year Award less than one year ago, I find it disheartening that the Institute did not post any image of Fay's chapel.

Gordon,

Don't be too discouraged. We have the photo and are just waiting on the release to be signed by the photographer. It will be up on the website soon and will stay up for a year. The picture will also be a part of our traveling exhibition.

While much of today's architecture is designed by a collaboration of designers and their supervisors with necessary contributions from engineering specialists and other consultants, it is inspiring to recognize that it was within Fay Jones' own mind that the client's requirements were carefully considered, problems solved, conflicts resolved, structural systems calculated--and a masterful work of art created.

His great works were all based upon what he called the poetics of structure. Without resorting to applied ornamentation, Jones' work is inherently beautiful because he organized all the essential component pieces into their most effective configurations in a surprisingly fresh way--that eloquently expressed their unique natures. Yet, his creative structural details transcend their technical functions and have evoked strong emotional feelings for the spaces they create. Nobody has done this as well as Fay Jones!

Well said Vernon Reed FAIA !

While Thorncrown Chapel is an exquisite example of Fay Jones Ozark School design, the Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel is a refinement of the original idea and more elegant with its graceful curved arches.

Regardless, both chapels are situated a few miles apart near Eureka Springs, Arkansas, not Alaska, as you incorrectly indicated.

Bill,

Where does it say this building is in Alaska?

Perhaps the ultimate expression of Fay's chapel work is his last and also his only work in California. Known as SkyRose Chapel it is located at an 1100 foot elevation within the largest cemetery in the United States: Rose Hills Memorial Park and Mortuary in Whittier, California.

SkyRose is his largest and most complex effort designed to facilitate weddings, funerals,burials (the foundation is a daylight basement that serves as a mausoleum and columbarium), concerts (included is a magnificent (almost 4000 pipes) pipe organ for which Fay designed the casework) and other community events.

The chapel works well for all these disparate purposes because of the collaborative design process and the structure's inherent spirituality

Unlike many of his chapels which drew upon the context of their sites for inspiration this site was devoid of any context (except perhaps a panoramic view of the entire Los Angeles basin) which then Fay had to design along with the building. He was greatly supported in this project by his long time partner, Maurice Jennings, who is often overlooked for his contributions to Fay's work.

This is a fantastic little building. Small but majestic. Compare it to another Arkansas religious monument, a giant Jesus in Eureka Springs. This building is a Michelin 3 star- worth the trip.

I am not a religious person to the point of qualifying as an agnostic. When I do find myself believing in God, it is either through the works of man (which is why European Cathedrals work so well-they make you feel as if you are in God's presence) or the works of nature (Oregon coast, mountains, etc). This building combines the works of God and man to the point that just looking at pictures of it almost makes a believer out of a cynic like me.

That Apple Store wouldn't make me a Mac user.