Saint Bartholomew's Chapel by Kevin deFreitas Architects

The Australian landscape is perfect evidence of how readily new life springs forth in the aftermath of a bushfire. Likewise, when the Rincon Indian reservation in San Diego County, California was ravaged by wildfire in 2007 – and its historic Saint Bartholomew’s Chapel razed in the process – the scene was ripe for a rebirth of sorts.

Pessimists would have considered the aftermath a ravaged wasteland. But to optimists – like Kevin deFreitas Architects – it was a clean slate: a chance to start afresh. And so like a phoenix, the new Saint Bartholomew’s Chapel was raised from the ashes of the old.

Yet while Kevin deFreitas Architects saw this as an opportunity to rebuild the original chapel, the intention was never to emulate or recreate the past. In fact, it presented the chance to accommodate the needs of a community that had grown and changed significantly since the original chapel was built 100 years ago. The new design has double the seating capacity of the original, an additional standalone multipurpose social hall and an outdoor prayer garden. Native American and Catholic influences can be recognised in the rammed earth walls, radial plan elements, the butterfly roof and extensive use of locally sourced materials.

Only the original adobe bell tower and Mission bell survived the fire, and so they were retained as the core inspiration – and structural element – of the new Chapel. Other site-harvested materials were also used throughout construction to form key thematic highlights and to forge a connection between the natural environment, the indigenous people of the area, and the new structure itself. Most notable among these are the huge rammed earth walls that flank the outdoor sanctuary. Formed from 120 tons of sacred reservation soil – and each measuring nearly 60 feet long, 18 feet tall and two feet thick – these walls embody the strong, vital Native American influence in the Chapel’s design, and in the local community. Other natural elements have also been worked into the Chapel, both indoors and out. A three-tonne boulder is dramatically worked into the baptismal font, and 5-inch-thick slabs of Coast Live Oak timber remind the congregation of the awesomeness not only of their natural surroundings, but of the creator of nature to whom they pray.

Kevin deFreitas Architects is known for taking a multifaceted approach, incorporating sustainable and green building techniques and technologies that are yet to gain a foothold in the mainstream market. As chance – or choice – would have it, this made the firm a perfect fit for the role of recreating Saint Bartholomew’s Chapel, for the traditional owners of this land also believe in living “lighter” on the land. As such, the clients requested ‘green’ materials, water- and power-efficient technologies and sustainable strategies, both high- and low-tech. The result in terms of the latter: a high thermal mass construction; deep overhanging eaves; protected glazing and reduced West-facing openings; operable windows to allow for through-breezes; and clerestory windows and skylights for natural daylighting. In terms of high-tech sustainable design, the Chapel features a thin film solar photovoltaic system incorporated into the metal standing seam roof, highly efficient mechanical plants, a computerised lighting panel, high-performance solar glazing, and Icynene self-expanding foam insulation designed to improve occupancy comfort and energy efficiency.

As a result, the Chapel could very well attain the Gold level LEED certification its owners seek. It consumes approximately 26 per cent less power and 35 per cent less water than a similar structure not built to accommodate this “lighter living” concept. Furthermore, the same environmental thoughtfulness permeates the Chapel’s outdoor spaces, which are notable for their selection of highly drought-tolerant plant species selected to revegetate the ravaged landscape.

The new Saint Bartholomew’s Chapel is, in many ways, the fresh ‘green’ growth after the fire: growing from the foundations – and traumas – of the past, a symbol of rejuvenation for the present community, and an active sign of hope for a healthy, vital environment in future generations. +

IMAGES Courtesy of Harrison Photographic

1. Only the adobe bell tower and Mission bell (at left) survived the bushfire that ravaged this rocky landscape. Both were salvaged and reinstated in the new Chapel grounds. 2. The new Chapel can accommodate almost twice the capacity of its predecessor, thanks in part to the addition of a multipurpose community hall. 3. Using materials like timber and stone – as well as various high- and low-tech ‘green’ building techniques – Kevin deFreitas Architects have created a chapel that creates the lightest possible impact on the environment. 4. The new Chapel was never intended as a replica of the old one; rather, it is designed to accommodate its current community now and into the future. 5. The garden features drought-tolerant plant species to reduce the need for additional watering, but