Love: A Multi-functional Church Design by Ching Yu Chen

Creating a Space for Unity and Care

The Love project stands out for its multi-functional approach to design. Each unit within the space serves multiple purposes, adapting to the needs of different groups throughout the week. The main hall, for example, functions as a gathering place for church members on weekends, while transforming into a senior day care center on weekdays. This dual-purpose design reflects the project's commitment to caring for the aging population and promoting intergenerational connections.

Another key aspect of the Love project is its focus on sound-proof construction. Recognizing the need to minimize noise and disturbances to neighboring areas, the design incorporates sound-damping materials such as aluminum ceiling sound barrier boards, wood fiber boards, and eco-friendly plastic-wood hollowed grilles. These materials enhance sound absorption, dissipation, conduction, and sound-proofing effects, ensuring a peaceful and undisturbed environment for all users.

The Love project also prioritizes connectivity and adaptability. Trunking in the ceiling and walls allows for easy network connection and live streaming, enabling smooth conduct of events, courses, and performances without interference. This flexibility ensures that the space can be utilized for a wide range of activities and can easily accommodate future expansions or software upgrades.

Ching Yu Chen and the design team have paid special attention to the materials used in the project. Warm wood finishing and an organic green wall with a grey-toned stone pattern create a soothing and stress-relieving environment. These choices reflect the project's aim to provide a space that promotes dignity, greenness, rationality, and healing.

The Love project, located in Beitun, Taichung, Taiwan, began construction in October 2018 and was completed and activated in June 2019. Despite the challenges posed by the global COVID-19 pandemic, the design team incorporated communication software and live streaming equipment during the planning stage. This allowed the main hall to transform into a shooting and editing studio, ensuring that spiritual support and preaching could continue through online live streaming.

The Love project has received recognition for its innovative and practical design. It was awarded the Iron A' Design Award in 2023 in the category of Interior Space, Retail, and Exhibition Design. This prestigious award acknowledges the project's integration of industry best practices, competent technical characteristics, and its contribution to a better world.