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photo: Carol M. Highsmith
Crystal Cathedral is one of four buildings to make the list of 150 by one of the mid-20th century’s most famous architects—Philip Johnson. This modern building, clad in mirrored glass, was one of the first megachurches. Operable strips of ventilating windows allow for passive solar heating and wind cooling. Congregants can view the services in their cars from the parking lot.
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This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on February 6, 2007 9:49 AM.
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Comments (7)
This is not a cathedral.
A cathedral is defined as the seat of a bishop.
This church has no bishop, only Robert Schuller, a multi-millionaire businessman.
Posted by Michael | February 10, 2007 6:04 PM
Posted on February 10, 2007 18:04
>Congregants can view the services in their cars from the parking lot.
Pretty much says everything about the buiding and its relationship to religion as a fundraising enterprise. I guess it looks impressive, though.
Posted by suits_me | February 12, 2007 4:28 AM
Posted on February 12, 2007 04:28
I'm sorry, is this a political commentary on the state of Christianity - or comments on architecture?
This building is stunning in person and, quite frankly, should be higher on the list. It was way ahead of its time.
Posted by Merch | February 13, 2007 3:35 PM
Posted on February 13, 2007 15:35
The building is big...it has alot of glass...very pretentious...and personally, very ugly. Why is this on there again?
Posted by 21 | February 14, 2007 11:04 AM
Posted on February 14, 2007 11:04
Is it finished? When will they remove the scaffolding?
Posted by Thomas Robb | February 16, 2007 2:22 PM
Posted on February 16, 2007 14:22
That the building looks more like an outdoor amphitheater for rock concerts, and that the design hypes your being able to watch services from inside your car in the parking lot is most assuredly a proper commentary on the state of (some of) Christianity and religion as a fundraising enterprise. It's not merely a sculpture garden; it's a building married to and revealing of a particular (alleged) function....
Posted by suits_me | February 18, 2007 11:35 PM
Posted on February 18, 2007 23:35
Watching services from the car is an old trend in Southern California going back to the boom time of drive-in movie theaters, some of which would double as churches on Sunday mornings. It's not necessarily a negative thing, and it has a practical application. Hard for most to believe, but many people in Hollywood are keepers of the faith who want to attend church like any other christian. If a famous person shows up at church, it draws focus away from the ceremony. When services were given at drive-ins celebrities could attend in their cars without drawing focus away from the service.
Posted by Craig Johnson | March 16, 2007 1:57 PM
Posted on March 16, 2007 13:57