Our Lady of Fatima – Dube, Soweto

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 community.
The church was completely redesigned. The existing roof had to be removed and the structural strength of the existing walls was too weak to support the rebuild of the roof. A sustainable approach was adopted in which columns were included at regular intervals within the church perimeter walls to support both the existing wall and new roof.
The Altar was set in the centre of the floor plan, the congregation to take part in the church service intimately together with the priest, responding to each other coherently.
The new roof was designed using multiple ring beams allowing for a central light well illuminating the altar below.
Natural lighting is brought into the church through clearstory windows along the perimeter of the building.
A choir loft is set on mezzanine level allowing the sound of music and singing to echo throughout the church.
A stream of lights from above the altar highlight the hanging crucifix as the main feature of the church.
A sacred, gentle and beautiful design.