Creating Places: A Citizen Observer's Look at Nashville's Built Environment


Writer's Note: William Williams' interest in the manmade environment dates to 1970, at which point the then-young Williams started a collection of postcards of city skylines. The collection now numbers 1,000-plus cards. Among the writer's specific interests are exterior building design, city district planning, demographics, signage, mixed-use development, mass transit and green/sustainable construction and living. Williams began his Creating Places column with The City Paper in February 2005. The column in its original form was discontinued in September 2008 and reinvented via this blog in November 2008. Creating Places can be found on the home page of the website of The City Paper, at which Williams has worked in various capacities since October 2000.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Creating Places: SDR designs church in Pleasant Hill

This is one of the more unusual contemporary church designs I've seen in the general Middle Tennessee area. Nashville-based Street Dixon Rick Architecture designed the building, which is noteworthy for its striking tower. I particularly like the manner in which the tower is positioned on a corner. Also, I find the segment to the left of the tower very attractive. In contrast, the piece to the far right (with the lit three windows) is a bit bland as it suggests a home of sorts. And, of course, there is the requisite surface parking in front. But overall, this building represents quality church architecture, and I surprise myself in saying such given I typically detest horizontal religious buildings. Visit this site for another SDR-designed church of note.


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4 comments:

  1. SimonAugust 3, 2012 at 9:06 AM

    So pleased that you linked to the OLOL church in Hendersonville. It really is a pretty building, albeit ringed by a car park. It sits atop a nice gently sloping hill and is quite light and airy inside, rising to a height of approximately 65'. As a regular visitor (I am not a "parishioner"), I hope that a planned expansion of the campus does not disturbe the basic appeal of the existing sanctuary. P.S. I understand the the architect who led the desing team for the OLOL church is/was a parishioner there. I'm sure it's nice to be able to work on a building where you will someday worship.

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  2. SimonAugust 3, 2012 at 9:08 AM

    Spelling! Sorry!!!

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  3. William WilliamsAugust 4, 2012 at 1:20 PM

    Simon,

    Thanks for posting.

    WW

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  4. Sybil McLain-TopelAugust 6, 2012 at 9:23 AM

    Thank you, William, for covering this important new church addition for Pleasant Hill Community Church. For those who want to see interiors, a short slideshow is available:
    http://slidesha.re/OGA73s

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