At first glance, you may have a bit of trouble deciding what you’re seeing in the photo above. Read a bit further and look closely and all will become clear.
Photographer Susan Sanders has been out and about lately, traveling from one edge of the city to another on a quest to see and to study all of Rome’s contemporary architecture. Just a few days ago she found herself at the church of Dio Padre Misericordioso, more commonly known as the Jubilee Church for the fact that it was commissioned by the Vatican in honor of the jubilee held in the year 2000 (for a view of the church, see below). Built by American architect Richard Meier, it’s form is defined by three huge cast concrete “sails” that arch toward the heavens. Glass walls between the “sails” allow light itself to be the element that defines the sacred space within.
What you can’t see in the photo below, is that there’s a gap of about 18 inches (or so) between the bottom of the outermost sail and the travertine pavement. That gap is closed by glass, so that as you walk along the exterior of the church on its left side, the outermost sail appears to be floating in the air.
One of the interesting things about the Jubilee church is the fact that it’s located smack-dab in the middle of a suburban neighborhood called Tor Tre Teste. It’s the center of an active parish, complete with a mini soccer (or calcetto) field behind it and neighborhood kids navigating remote-control cars across the smooth limestone pavement. If there’s not a soccer game underway on the calcetto field when you visit, you’re sure to find kids kicking their balls against the side of the church — and its evidence of that most Italian of activities that Susan documents in her photo.
Remember that glass-covered gap between the outermost sail and the pavement? That’s what you see in the photo. Notice those round impressions on the glass? Those are the imprints of soccer balls that have knocked dust off the glass before bouncing back to some neighborhood kid. At first glance, the image appears to be a nicely composed abstraction, but with a bit of study one is reminded that the Romans are utterly adept at the task of integrating that which is iconic and beautiful into their everyday lives.
For more photos by Susan, visit her website: Rome With A View.
I know many Romans, including my father-in-law, hate the building, but I have to say, I love it. I can’t imagine trying to design something to house such a precious artifact, and I think Meier was right in being as simplistic as possible. Walking past it at night with the lights on… he built a jewel box for a true treasure. So, I hope the paint is easily cleaned!
Ciao!