Into the Space of Worship

Meraei El Nahal, Design Stream

Simon Rabyniuk, Advisor

In the 1960s, there was an immigration influx of Egyptian Coptic Christians (Copts) to Europe and to the west; Copts adapted their worship to the available conditions of these new locations. Coptic spaces in Egypt are atmospheric with a distinct identity, but diasporic Coptic churches became more flexible, reflecting the diasporic mindset of surviving. As a result, Coptic churches in North America lack a ritualistic and liturgical atmosphere found in Egypt, often appropriating buildings of other denominations of Christianity, or even light industrial spaces. My thesis argues that instead of building out of necessity – as the diasporic Coptic community has had to do in the past – we can now start thinking of intentional design aspects that merge both diasporic landscapes and traditional Coptic design elements. My thesis identifies three key concerns for the design of a new North American Coptic church: 1) religious adaptation; 2) industrial adaptation; and 3) having the churches be purpose-built for ritual and prayer rather than mere aesthetic.