The Stutong Priest Retreat Centre
This is a retreat for retired priests of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching; comprising accommodation for the priests and care-taker priests, rooms for visiting congregation, multi-purpose rooms and a small chapel. The site is at Jalan Stutong, with an existing chapel and the new complex planned around a courtyard.
The main accommodation blocks are 2-storey, wrapping around the courtyard in an L-shaped configuration. The courtyard is divided into 2 sections - an open space for outdoor activities, and the landscaped garden for quiet contemplation.
A Chapel for the priests occupies the most prominent location at the front of the courtyard. Its roof is shaped like an out-stretched palm providing shelter and lifting the eye as one enters the building. The altar is back-lit with large clerestory lights to float the roof from the rest of the building.
The accommodation units seeks to provide a self-contained home for the priests and in between the units is a private garden to bring light and ventilation into the sleeping areas. To encourage social interaction, large windows are placed next to the covered walkway in the living rooms, and chairs are placed under the windows.
The architectural language is one of modesty, tranquility and open-mindedness, the building forms are simple without embellishment. The planning has distinct public and private zones, gently defined with landscape and covered link-ways - the overall effect is peaceful and welcoming.
Text by the architect
PROJECT GALLERY
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Architect : Integrated Design Consultant
Client : The Archbishop of Kuching
Project Location : Kuching | Sarawak
Year : 2011 -
C&S Engineer : Perdunding TCS
M&E Engineer : KTA (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd
Quantity Surveyor : PUBM Quantity Surveyors Sdn Bhd
Contractor : Pembenaan Leyan Sdn Bhd
Design Team : Ng Chee Wee | Dyilon Sia
Photography : Ng Chee Wee | Dyilon Sia -
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