Customer Reviews

Design Intervention: Revolutionizing Sacred Space (Volume 1)

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Looking around at many of the church buildings and facilities standing today, it seems that they either had not the money or interest in using architecture for more than building a roof. In fact, some church buildings are down right ugly, and one has to wonder what message these buildings communicate to the community around them. Is religion, or Christianity more specifically, just as old and irrelevant as these buildings?

Architect Mel McGowan has been advocating a different approach to church and ministry facilities, and he captures them in his book, Design Intervention: Revolutionizing Sacred Space. McGowan believes "Church environments can [use] concrete, paint, and landscaping to communicate the Gospel in new ways. This "architectural evangelism" still upholds excellence, but replaces intimidating experiences with inviting environments." (7)

The book is in a sense a portfolio of McGowan's work, though he uses his work as examples for how architecture can make a spiritual difference. It's broken up into 5 chapters, each highlighting three of his projects with a number of pictures. Here are a couple of examples. The first is of Heritage Christian Church in Georgia. "Today the Christ-centered community is re-centered near the water. The church worships in a simple pre-engineered structure detailed with elements inspired by Georgia State Park lodges, and a glass, stone, and wood gallery guides foot traffic along the water's edge. God easily handles the wow factor, and the congregation enjoys closer connection to the Master Architect." (57)

The second example is from Rock Harbor in California. This is a church I've personally visited and can attest to the architectural brilliance and beauty it displays. Rock Harbor is locatedRock Harbor in an office park right next to Orange County airport. There's little natural beauty around it. The building itself almost blends in as it looks like just another warehouse. But inside it's a creative masterpiece. "Stewardship and creativity-values frequently held in a dichotomous relationship-are both communicated here throughout the environment. By clearly recycling and reusing materials and finishes normally considered unsuitable for sacred space, social and environmental values are linked to the spiritual one of vibrant, Christian community." (23)

Design Intervention by Mel McGowan is a quick read with an important and substantive message. It's of obvious use for those building or remodeling their church or ministry space, but I think it's also helpful to anyone in leadership for reflecting on how they can best use the space God has given them for ministry. Design Intervention would make a great coffee table book that could even start a conversation about the gospel.

Mel has transformed the way I look at spaces and he captures it all in this fantastic book. It's filled with great wisdom, design, and a passion to help us understand how spaces influence us and set the tone for what happens within them. I'm so thankful that Mel put his insights into book form and plan to share this with other leaders. Fantastic stuff!

Always fantastic to see an innovative approach to design, especially for Churches which often seem so dated. Loved all the gorgeous photos and unique looks. If you're interested in design at all, even if you're not a church goer, it's worth your time to check this book out.

So I love art and architecture is something I more "revere." I respect anyone with artistic AND engineering abilities. This book brings all that slamming together. There are amazing stories about these incredible buildings and spaces, and the photography of those spaces is pretty epic. I recommend this book to anyone wanting to be uplifted, inspired, and intrigued. It would look nice on a coffee table or would be a great gift for those in love with design - both in print and out in the world; this book covers all those bases.

This book was recommended to me by a friend. It's incredible to see the work of McGowan and his team and the thought that goes into the spaces they create. It's not just about putting up 4 walls for people to meet in, it's about creating a space that serves the community's needs. I truly enjoyed this book, great content, great pictures that keep the visual interest there...I definitely recommend.

"Mooning the Community" is just one of the chapter headings of this short book, and in that one phrase author Mel McGowan reveals his sensibility: unorthodox, revolutionary, yet grounded in a real heart to create church buildings that welcome a community instead of, well, showing the area their backsides.

Other essays include "The Green Wave"--environmental issues, of course--, "Form Follows Faith," and several others. Interspersed are beautiful pictures of the many projects McGowan's company (Visioneering Studios) has worked on with just enough text to understand the story and purpose behind each project.

For just a few bucks you can get a real education on architecture and the philosophy behind this new movement in "architectural evangelism." Highly recommended.

Design Intervention is a great read and stays true to it's title. It opens your mind to a whole new way of looking at church spaces by showing how important it is to tell a story through architecture and how that something as simple as a couch can create community. You wont find any pews in this book nor will you find the same old story of design. If you and your church are ready to break out into the "story" of sacred spaces I would very much recommend this book.

Design Intervention is an easy read with lots of images that give a unique and cool perspective to environmental design. I never gave much thought to church design but after giving this book a read it has changed my perspective on how to revolutionize sacred space. This book is also full of knowledge and statistical data which makes the book fun to re-read. (You always learn something new)