Indaba Chapel
Indaba Lodge
Bloemfontein
Indaba Lodge is a well established wedding and conference venue in Bloemfontein. The lovely setting on the banks of the Renosterspruit cried out for a chapel overlooking the tranquility of the water. The site really had a big influence on the design of this chapel. Instead of this chapel becoming a monument, its walls had to stack away completely in order to give recognition to the beautiful surroundings. The glass gable ends on both sides allow the tree tops to filter into the chapel.
A steel struckture was used to minimize wall space. The pitch of the roof was made from glass for the entire lenght. This enabled direct sunlight to flood into the chapel. This also has a very strong symbolic meaning. The patio on the outside towards the river serves as a transition area between holy and informal space. It further serves to double-up the floor space of the 80 seater chapel.
Contractor: Jannie Barnard Senior
Completed: 2004
