Transformation of an institution : the design of a Catholic Church for Boston's South End

Abstract

Architecture can influence or be influenced by its environment. Because this is so, buildings often reflect the beliefs, understandings, or prejudices of a society. Architecture can also help to shape society's understanding of the institutions it houses. The traditional forms of the Catholic Church in this country have followed society's expectations of this facility. To date, there have been few significant challenges to this image. Through the transformation of this historic and often inappropriate form, t he architecture can begin to influence both the Church's understanding of it self and its environs, and society's impression of this community. This thesis is an exploration into such a transformation . Through both research and design , the traditional image of the Church is evaluated and challenged. The search for a new image , one more appropriate to both t he original intentions of the Church and the modern environment s in which it operates , is attempted, and a preliminary design is proposed.