Jacob's Ladder: A Modern Church and Community Hub in Hong Kong

Reinterpreting Church Spaces in a Densely Populated City

The inspiration for the design of the church comes from the biblical story of Jacob's Ladder. In the Book of Genesis, Jacob, who was fleeing from his twin brother Esau, had a vision of a ladder or stairway connecting heaven and earth. This vision took place at a place called "Bethel," which means "House of God." Drawing from this story, the designers named the church Tsz Kwong Bethel and incorporated the ladder motif throughout the space.

The main feature of the church is the pine wood structures that serve as a reinterpretation of the ladder. These structures are located in three key areas of the church: the Entrance Foyer, the Main Chapel, and the Multi-purpose Social Hub. In the Entrance Foyer, a wood structure with 12 open triangular facets symbolizes the 12 sons of Jacob or the 12 tribes of Israel. The Main Chapel, which seats over 300 people, features a raw concrete open ceiling with three large timber structures representing the Trinity. Each of these structures is shaped like a rock with 12 facets, symbolizing perfection and completeness. The Social Hub, designed for multiple functions such as casual gatherings, co-working, and events, features a 7x7-gridded timber structure with a cross down the middle, representing Jesus Christ as the bridge between Earth and Heaven.

One of the unique aspects of the Tsz Kwong Bethel Church is its location. Situated in a floor of a brand new commercial high-rise building in the heart of Kowloon, the church aims to redefine what a church space can become in a densely populated city. With a floor area of around 1200 square meters and a ceiling height of close to 4 meters, the church maximizes its space to accommodate various functions and activities.

Not only does the Tsz Kwong Bethel Church serve as a place of worship, but it also functions as a community hub. The church embraces the concept of co-working, with 30 staff members who do not have fixed desks and can work anywhere available. The space features an open bar/pantry, banquette seating, and small rooms that can be booked. By opening its doors to the public, the church encourages interaction with people coming in to use the spaces on a day-to-day basis.

The design phase of the Tsz Kwong Bethel Church started in July 2016, and construction on site commenced in November 2016, with completion in February 2017. The project is located in Sanpokong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.

The innovative design of the Tsz Kwong Bethel Church has garnered recognition and accolades. In 2018, it was awarded the Bronze A' Design Award in the Interior Space, Retail, and Exhibition Design category. This award recognizes designs that exhibit strong technical and creative skills, contribute to quality of life improvements, and make the world a better place.

The Tsz Kwong Bethel Church is a testament to the power of design to transform traditional spaces and create innovative, multi-functional environments. With its reinterpretation of the ladder motif and its embrace of co-working and community engagement, this modern church and community hub is redefining the concept of a church in a densely populated city like Hong Kong.