Having learned about the characteristics of Gothic and Romanesque cathedrals, the students are now embarking on an exciting project: each student is designing their own sacred space.
We are learning how to use the Sketch Up design software, and the students are collaborating to share ideas, methods, and suggestions. They are discovering, first hand, the way in which architects rely on both science and art as they design spaces. As they experiment with the seemingly endless range of tools and possibilities on Sketch Up, they are also trying, failing, and trying again.
They are also thinking deeply about the ways that architecture -- and the specific design decisions they make -- can help people express and connect to religious and spiritual beliefs.
There's a noticeable buzz in the classroom, and I cannot wait to see what the students come up with!