Sacred Architecture, one that is etched throughout the history of mankind. It is an architecture designed to elevate the spirit to a level of transcendence, a search for purity of the soul, inner peace and serenity through a passage of enrichment.
Effective design of such spaces illustrate a sense of progression, a journey from the entrance through the building until the arrival at the altar or tabernacle, the most sacred space. It also shows an understanding of the rituals and their importance. These are carefully catered for and positioned in the design. The experience of transcendence and peace is enhanced through carefully planned lighting (natural, artificial, or candlelight) and choice of materials which are used to create the suitable ambience for each part of the church, temple or mosque.
Places of Worship
Positioned in the heart of Soweto, the church of Our Lady of Fatima having fallen into disrepair had found its community dwindling. The Archbishop, for whom this church holds personal importance, approached Perception to renovate the church in the hope that it would reinvigorate the
The brief was to build a church that depicts the architectural characteristics of the early Christian churches in Lebanon. Inspired by the most beautiful church in the ancient city of Jbeil in Lebanon which was built in 1115AD by the Crusaders; a beautiful Romanesque church .
The Shrine of the Mother of Mercy is to be a sacred place for the Catholic Church in South Africa and a place of pilgrimage for its patrons. The design includes a chapel and multi-purpose hall. It is positioned on a natural, mountainous site in
This church is built for the rural area of Evaton West with an extremely small budget and as a result careful planning and design was required. The focus of the design was to make it as beautiful and functional as possible with as little maintenance
The brief required renovations and restoration of the existing church which had been poorly constructed and was uninviting. Perception revitalised and enhanced the building through the inclusion of a large cross by the entrance as a prominent awestriking feature, providing a facelift to the interior
Regina Mundi is the largest Roman Catholic Church in South Africa. The Latin ‘Regina Mundi’ means “Queen of the World” and refer to the Virgin Mary. The church was built in 1961 and official opened on the 24th of July 1962 by Johannes Baptista Montini,