Crypt Design

Today is for the crypt design, I dont' know why I always feel like doing something underground is interesting. Although in the real situation, designing something underground is fully painful, stressful and expensive. So why underground ? This is a question that architects and I always face. In Hong Kong, the answer is simple, make more space. So how about the situation for the ACU Aquanas Campus ? The answer for me is because this is Catholic university, in the ancient time or medieval age the church in Rome, crypt is considered for the martyrs. And later it is considered to be the place as the second church or the church below. I can still remember the crypt in St. Mary Cathederal in Sydney is a place for displaying the history of the development of the Cathoic Church in New South Wales and together it is the tomb and the place for dsplaying the precious relics. So what is the crypt for the university will be ? Second chapel ? Contemplation Place ? The answer maybe all.

The Brief for the crypt:

1) Contemplation room
2) Church Choir practice space
3) Worship space
4) Staircase to chapel
The first sketch design for gets both sides for the contemplation rooms, make the plan and the space too complicated.


This is the simplified plan that containing one sided of extension wall. to form different function room. There is originally I propose to have one enclosed room for the priest to prepare the mass. But finally I feel like there should not have the enclosed space in the space.



This is the final sketch for the crypt, and the wall is modified to adjust the contemplation rooms.


So, at the end we get the final plan drawing for the crypt: