Wednesday 31 January 2007

Anthony Chapel - Maurice Jennings + David McKee



The stunning Anthony Chapel at the University of Arkansas in Hot Springs, Arkansas -- recently opened, and designed by Maurice Jennings + David McKee.
Anthony Chapel architects Maurice Jennings and David McKee are partners in the Fayetteville, AR firm founded by E. Fay Jones, an internationally recognized architect who once studied with Frank Lloyd Wright. Jones, who died in August 2004, created the inspirational Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs, AR, which was selected by members of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) as the best American building constructed since 1980. In 1990, Jones received from Britain's Prince Charles the prestigious AIA Gold Medal award for his design.

Jennings was Fay Jones' partner for over 25 years and was involved with many of his designs, including Thorncrown Chapel. In recent years, chapels designed by Jennings + McKee can be found in Ann Arbor, MI and Sewanee, TN at the University of the South; however, both architects agree that neither of these structures compare to the Anthony Chapel. According to Jennings, "it is our finest creation to date." We can't tell you how excited we are to see the "new" Chapel section on the web site.
And to those people who say, "What's an atheist doing posting chapels on his website?" I can best answer that by repeating what Ayn Rand said when someone asked her why she didn't object when someone said "God bless you" to her. Replied Rand: That person was wishing her the highest possible. Why would she object?

In a chapel such as this, in a setting such as it has, it is possible to see the architect's aim in a similar way -- as a wish for the highest possible on this earth. Why would anyone in his right mind object to that?

LINKS:
Maurice Jennings Architects
Garvan Gardens to unveil landmark chapel - University of Arkansas News

RELATED: Architecture

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm about the new Anthony Chapel. Last night at dinner, several of us joked the name of the gardens might soon be changed to Garvan Wedding Gardens. Actually, the Chapel is just one of the things we proud of here.

Recently geographer Warren Bland named Hot Springs the No. 1 place in America to retire.

I gotta admit,Hot Springs is a pretty cool place to live, even for those of us who aren't yet retired.

Rebecca McCormick,
Feature and Copy writer, Hot Springs Life & Home plus cellist and wedding officiant!

KG said...

WOW! just....wow!

Peter Cresswell said...

Wow! That's pretty much what I thought too when I first saw it in my latest copy of the 'Friends of Kebyar News.'

And Rebecca: You're very welcome. :-)

Anonymous said...

Wow indeed, but I do confess to thinking that the church was still under construction when I first saw the pictures...

Forgive my ignorance!