MARIAN CHAPEL

Part of a larger renovation of Seattle’s St. James’ Cathedral, the Marian chapel was designed to create a place for solitude within the expansive communal space of the Cathedral. Formerly an open side niche, the space was enclosed to create a small, vertically-oriented chapel with proportions of 1:2:4.

Passing through the arched threshold, the space is intimate but opens to a dark expanse. Emerging from this blackness is a band of golden light that envelops the body.  180 beeswax candles line the walls in bronze votive holders, increasing in tempo as they approach the central figure of Mary. The candles subtly extend overhead to create an embrace of light, reflections dancing off curved bronze and shellacked, honey-colored walls.

With vast, unknowable darkness above and below, we inhabit a small, flickering band of earthly reality. Here, Mary is present with us in her humanity, her loving empathy inviting us to open ourselves toward the greater divine mystery. 

Credit: Eleanor Kinsel

Bravest of all humans,

                    consent illumined her. 

The room filled with its light,

the lily glowed in it,

                    and the iridescent wings.

Consent,

                    courage unparalleled,

opened her utterly.

-Denise Levertov, Annunciatiion

1994

Seattle, WA

Susan H Jones, Architect

COLLABORATORS

Owner: St. James Cathedral, of the Catholic Archdiocese of Western Washington

Architect of Record: The Bumgardner Architects

Contractor: Lease Crutcher Lewis

Photography: Fred Housel, Elizabeth Deveraux, Eleanor Kinsel, Susan Jones

AWARDS

AIA National Religious Art and Architecture Design Award, The Marian Chapel

E.J Potente, Sr. Liturgical Design Competition, Grand Prize Award, awarded by the National Liturgical Conference, for the St. James Cathedral

AIA Northwest and Pacific Region Design Award for Merit, for St. James Cathedral

AIA Seattle Honor Awards for Washington: Award of Merit, St. James Cathedral

National Trust for Historic Preservation: National Preservation Honor Award, St. James Cathedral

Washington Trust for Historic Preservation: Preservation of Historic Resources Award, St. James Cathedral

AIA Religious Art and Architecture Design Award, St. James Cathedral

Interiors Magazine Public Spaces Honorable Mention Award., St. James Cathedral

PUBLICATION

Inspired: Churches of Seattle - Rick Grant, 2013

House of God, Gate of Heaven - Jackie Ryan, 2000

“The Unfinished Symphony of St. James Cathedral” - Michael G Ryan, The Seattle Times, 2000

“Delight” - Annette Lecuyer, Architectural Review, 1997

RELATED PROJECTS

Bellevue First Congregational Church

St. Paul’s

Seafirst Art Gallery