London’s wooden Belarusian chapel commemorates Chernobyl victims

Serving the Belarusian community of north London, the recently completed Belarusian Memorial Chapel is dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

The small wooden chapel was designed by London-based studio Spheron Architects. Its form, which was inspired by time spent by the firm’s director Tszwai So in Belarus researching the design of churches, brings together traditional architecture and contemporary technologies. These include gently undulating side walls, frosted windows that allow light to shine into and out of the church, timber screens decorated with historic icons, and a shingle roof.

Set in the grounds of Marian House in Woodside Park, the chapel will provide a permanent space of worship for members of the community who previously worshipped in a temporary space inside Marian House.

“We have sought to achieve a thoughtful blend of traditional Belarusian and contemporary design, and hope that our chapel will be loved and well-used by the Belarusian community in the UK,” So explained.

“This project is saturated in Belarusian historical and cultural symbolism, while also firmly embedded in UK architectural innovation,” commented Mikalaj Packajeu, who chairs the Association of Belarusians in Great Britain.

This new build wooden chapel was commissioned by the Holy See of Rome for the Belarusian Diaspora Community in London to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

Source: Dezeen