CHURCH IN PORAC

(Future Project)

The following scheme is an initial concept for a church in Porac, Pampanga, a region severely affected by the Mt. Pinatubo eruption of 1991 and a more recent earthquake in 2019.

The area is still abundant with lahar, or volcanic ash—a material that could be used to make durable, sustainable concrete that is high in compressive strength and that prevents the spreading of cracks throughout the structure.

The building has a cruciform plan and a parabolic roof that comprises most of its shell. It is modest in height compared to many churches, and its structure mimics the site’s landform—a lahar and concrete “hill”, slightly volcanic with a hole in its apex where the cross would sit, and with openings in the four quadrants of the roof allowing green courtyards to penetrate. The altar is central in the plan, allowing the participants to focus towards the church’s core while being surrounded by nature. Its open shell allows wind to pass through. The symmetry of this plan and its structural form provides the beginning for a sound and stable methodology and a serene and comforting shelter for the community, a must in our work but more so in an area that has often been plagued with natural disaster.