Armenian orthodox chapel

The commission of the AIM Hanemian Architects Agency in this project, done in partnership with Abro and Henri Kandjian, was to create a place of religious worship for all in accordance with the requirements of a specific cult.

The Agency has designed a place of religious worship with a strong identity, standing out from its architectural environment. At the same time the design had to comply with significant local planning constraints, so the Armenian Chapel is three storeys high, like the neighbouring houses.

The walls are sloping to compensate for the planning restrictions on height and have a 15cm light well at the top to give access to the sun’s rays parallel to the internal walls of the Chapel. This interpretation of the duality of light and darkness is at the heart of the Orthodox Armenian rite. Black outside, white inside, this chapel provides the ideal sanctuary.

French painter Jansem who offered a painting “Virgin Mary and Child” placed above the altar, was in charge of the choice of materials.