Byzantine Style Cathedral

The cathedral was designed for a church-in-town of a large monastery, which hosts numerous shrines that attract multiple pilgrims. The history of the holy place goes back to Byzantium, that is why the client wanted us to design a church in the Byzantine style or, more precisely, to use the architectural and structural scheme of the Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Constantinople. This church is half the size of Justinian's Hagia Sophia, but it can accommodate up to 2000 people, which is due to the ability to accommodate all pilgrims who gather here on holidays.

We attempted to reflect the monumentality of forms, asceticism and austerity but also to express the wealth of Byzantine architecture and decor, as well as its tectonic beauty. We presented two slightly different variants of the church.

Project: Cathedral in Byzantine style
Location: Russia
Capacity: 2000 people
Total area: 2975 m² (all rooms on three floors).
Stage: sketch design
Year: 2018

The first version of the cathedral has a high narthex with a choir loft, ending with a light drum. There are wide side stairs. There are entrances to the lower floor on the sides of the narthex, through which people with disabilities can also access the elevators.

The second version of the project changed the narthex, its height was reduced and a different top was designed. The side entrances to the lower level were improved, its layout was changed, an additional entrance to the service rooms and the kitchen area was made. The configuration of the side stairs was simplified. A gallery around the altar was made. The planning structure improved the functional connections and adapted the plans to all the relevant regulations. The façade materials were redesigned to be more suitable for Russian climate, and the cathedral itself acquired the image of a mountain that gradually rises above the ground