Following a rise in land motion surrounding Lloyd Wright’s Wayfarers Chapel outdoors of Los Angeles, the group has introduced it is going to disassemble the landmark for preservation.
Situated on the Palos Verdes Peninsula overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the 100-seat church was accomplished in 1951 by son of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Lloyd Wright, and has remained a well-liked vacation spot since.
The choice to disassemble the chapel was made not too long ago within the face of the continued Portuguese Bend landslide, which has been occurring within the space for over 50 years however has “accelerated at an unprecedented price” over the past two.
“The landslide continues at a speedy tempo,” mentioned the group. “The earth below the chapel property and surrounding space is presently shifting 2 ft (0.6 metres) or extra a month.”
The motion has resulted in harm to each the chapel and its grounds, with the Wayfarers Chapel group noting that its redwood construction, metallic framing and ceiling are “torquing and bending”, glass panels have “fractured” and the concrete flooring is “heaving and cracking”.
Underground utilities comparable to electrical energy, water, sewer and fuel utilities have additionally damaged and are presently unusable.
“The chapel itself is in danger for irrevocable harm if strategies to avoid wasting the chapel usually are not taken within the coming weeks,” mentioned the group.
Led by Architectural Sources Group (ARG) of Los Angeles, together with “historic preservation consultants” a gaggle will deconstruct the chapel, documenting its items alongside the best way, to protect and reconstruct the construction on a close-by website.
“The accelerating destruction of Wayfarers Chapel by the Portuguese Bend landslide advanced is a looming tragedy felt by many,” mentioned Wayfarers Chapel govt director Dan Burchett. “Wayfarers is dedicated to preserving our iconic chapel precisely because it has all the time been, both on the present website or an analogous website shut by in Rancho Palos Verdes.”
“We’re taking quick motion to fastidiously disassemble the chapel’s historic supplies as a obligatory step within the preservation of the chapel for generations to return,” he continued.
Most of the chapel’s supplies, which embody redwood glulam, blue roof tiles and metal window framing are authentic to the construction and “can’t be replicated at the moment” making its cautious disassembly extra paramount.
“So lots of the chapel’s authentic supplies that have been a part of the Lloyd Wright design can’t be replicated at the moment,” mentioned ARG principal Katie Horak. “Our group is working towards the clock to doc and transfer these constructing elements to security in order that they are often put again collectively once more.”
It’s estimated that the disassembly and reconstruction of the challenge will value $300,000 to $500,000 (£234,645 to £391,075), with a GoFundMe web page open for donations.
As of Might 2024, the chapel and grounds are closed for the endeavor.
Affiliated with the Swedenborgian Church of North America, Wayfarers Chapel was constructed between 1949 and 1951 and serves as a memorial to 18th-century scientist and theosopher Emanuel Swedenborg.
It was in-built an natural model and options giant, geometric home windows surrounded by an intricate metal body that includes the environment into its design, echoing the architectural language of Frank Lloyd Wright.
It was designated a Nationwide Historic Landmark in 2023 and earlier than its closure in February 2024 hosted companies, occasions and weddings.
Just lately, Albert Frey’s all-metal Thirties Aluminaire Home was reassembled in Palm Springs and a Fifties home by Walter S White in Palm Desert was restored that includes a waved roof from its authentic design.
The photographs are courtesy of Wayfarers Chapel until in any other case famous.
