Frank pulled the architectural drawings from his drawing-tube and unfurled them on the table (this was the 1990s). I studied his plan with interest. ‘Hey Frank, what is the big blue triangle?’ Frank looked up. ‘The swimming pool’, he said breathlessly, ‘the triangular form reflects the doctrine of the Trinity.’ I was stunned, finally asking, ‘But how do you swim lengths? And what about the lane ropes? And how do you clean the internal angles? Wouldn’t you need special brushes?’
It was crazy. But we should not be too harsh with Frank. Here was a young design student seeking to integrate his Christian faith with his studies. He was seeking to escape from a divided world where his Christian faith (forgiveness of sins and heaven when you die) stood on one side of a deep chasm; his study of Architecture (his daily work!) on the other. But a triangular swimming pool? Surely there was a better way.
Working for the wellbeing of creation
Every artist or designer works from some worldview or philosophy. Christian architects, designers and craftsmen need to develop a rich theology to inform their work.
The starting point is creation. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). God brought order out of chaos; separated light from darkness; brought dry ground out of the waters; planted a garden sanctuary as a place of fellowship and beauty and delight. God evaluated his creation and determined it very good. The whole of creation manifests God’s power, wisdom and goodness.
Moreover, God made us in his image and likeness, giving our first parents a command: ‘fill the earth and subdue it’.This command is often called the ‘creation’ or ‘dominion’ mandate — dominion here being good and wise dominion not godless and exploitative domination. God’s image bearers were to fill the world and develop the rich potential latent in the creation. We get to dig, build, make. This mandate was complicated by the fall (to put it mildly!) but is fulfilled in Christ who through his body the church will fill all things.
We are made in God’s image as sub-creators (a phrase coined by J.R.R Tolkien). We do not create out of nothing (ex nihilo), but endlessly shape, craft and rearrange matter. To be an artist or designer or craftsman is in some way to represent (or misrepresent) the goodness and wisdom of God. As God’s image bearers we find great satisfaction in design, planning and construction. Whether we are constructing a humble shed or reclaiming a wild patch of ground or restoring a ruined building to glory we can find great joy.
Design work is also empowered by God. God gave Moses detailed plans to construct the tabernacle. He also called craftsmen. He called Bezalel and filled him with ‘the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze.’ (Ex 31:1–6). In the new covenant the Lord richly pours out his Spirit on his people and helps us in our daily work and not just in what we regard as the ‘spiritual’ bits of our lives.
We certainly need thoughtful, industrious and talented Christians to be working, teaching and writing in the field of architecture and design. Compared to other professions (such as medicine or law), Christians have been under-represented in this area - although thankfully this has changed somewhat in the last few decades.
Worshipping the God we work for
To be a faithful sub-creator in God’s world entails growth in wisdom.
Just as a farmer by trial and error learns the best way to grow and harvest crops (and is taught by God who is wonderful in counsel and great in wisdom – see Isaiah 28:27–29); so also the craftsman or architect (sub-creator) gradually learns his or her craft: over time developing wisdom and knowledge and craft competence.
To be a faithful sub-creator you need to have your eyes open to the wonder of God’s created world: to appreciate the structure and richness of material reality. What are the properties of glass? What about limestone or sandstone? What can you make with ash or willow or oak? What happens to copper when it oxidises? What works to keep the rain out? Which kitchen surface will stain when subjected to red wine, beetroot juice, etc? What rots? Remember, God made a physical world of matter and declared it to be good: we honour the Lord if we pay attention to the stuff of the real world and learn to ‘work with the grain’ of the various materials we use in the rich variety of our Father’s world.
To be a faithful sub-creator you also need your eyes wide open to the vast array of buildings and structures that exist. How have sub-creators reordered and recreated the raw material of the physical world in the past to create shelters and homes, barns and cathedrals? Much modern architecture has been driven by a rejection and negation of the past: Christians need to be engaged in a process of discriminating retrieval!
Just as a chef learns mastery though years of experience and thousands of dishes; just as a writer learns mastery by reading thousands of books and writing, writing, writing; so also the architect must grow in wisdom through the study of thousands of buildings of every kind to see what works, what doesn’t, what ages well, what stands the test of time? What have others done with space and light and volume and proportion and steel and glass?
This is important because much artistic work has been influenced by the Romantic movement which stresses expressive individualism and drawing out our latent genius and discovering the passion within! This leaves designers isolated from both history and reality. Modern architecture and design often stress freedom from rules and conventions, but there is a deeper freedom which comes from mastering the craft. So instead of expressive individualism’ stare in wide-eyed wonder at creation and the works of sub-creators (in all its vast array) and start to imitate and copy in your own designs to reflect the beauty and goodness that you discover. To be a faithful sub-creator, get wisdom.
Witnessing to the world
Six tips for displaying Christ as you study architecture:
Architecture school can be intense, so stay sane. You will be wise to be connected to family and church family and to regularly get out of the studio bubble. You were made in God’s image to work… but also to rest one day in seven. The Lord’s day is when you should put down tools to worship and rest and play. It will show that architecture is not the most important thing in life. Don’t be like the builders of Babel who sought to make a name for themselves. Rest in God and trust his promises.
Make the most of time with coursemates. You will certainly have a great deal of time with your peers. This is a good opportunity to get to know people, to share your life and the richness of the gospel.
The subculture of architecture school can be toxic. I expect the culture has shifted but in my day the end of a project found us doing frantic caffeine-fuelled ‘all-nighters.’ There is bound to be a greater intensity at the end of a project but all-nighters are not good for your mental health. You will do well to establish a steady workflow. Some teachers suggest the 8 8 8 pattern: 8 hrs sleep, 8 hrs, work, 8 hrs everything else. Learn to plod. Watch out for ego driven tutors. Get some experience in an office, or on a building site, or with the trades.
Embrace humility and patience. Your designs are not going to be perfect. The first draft of any book or building is bad. You have to be content to be rubbish for a long time and very gradually acquire skills and knowledge. It is an iterative process. People enter architecture school with a wide variety of backgrounds so don’t compare yourself with your peers. Instead, gradually seek to stack a wide selection of useful skills. AI can be good for generating design ideas but don’t let it drive the design process.
Consider ecclesiastical architecture. Visit ancient cathedrals and churches! We are used to seeing churches being converted into mosques or night-clubs or flats. I have been involved in church plants which have been reclaiming spaces for worship: knowing about these projects can be encouraging; we need many more.
Choose faith and perseverance. We live in a fallen, messed up world. Getting anything built is a painful, difficult, slow process. There are thorns and thistles in the garden. We eat our bread by the sweat of our brow. Don’t let suffering and evil of a fallen world surprise you or deter you. Look to Christ and keep going.
No triangular swimming pools
I would encourage you to actually pray for the Lord’s guidance and direction of your work. In the divided mindset we think that the Lord is only interested in the spiritual parts of our life. Do pray for the Lord’s wisdom and skill in the daily work you are seeking to undertake. Pray for his help in establishing good work habits. Seek wisdom and support where needed. If you can find more mature and helpful people to spend time with that would be good. Finding people working in the same field to talk with and pray with can be an enormous encouragement. No triangular swimming pools please.
Reflect and discuss
Think: Think back over what you have studied so far in your degree. Where have you seen God's fingerprints? Where have ideas presented to you challenged what you believed to be true?
Live: What do you think your coursemates would know about what is important to you from the way you live? Is there anything you want to change here?
Speak: Are there topics in your subject that are closer to talking about your outlook on life, God or the gospel? Pray for people on your course and for opportunities to share about Jesus with them this term.
Taking it further
- A Biblical Theology of Architecture?, Peter Marshall Mason
- Reformed Liturgical Resources: Aesthetics and Architecture
- 'Leaf by Niggle', J.R.R Tolkien
