D Church
Location
37 Zamarstynivska St, Lviv
Status
under construction
Total area
3 426 м2
Start of design
2024
Start of construction
2026
Client
D Church
Services:
- collection of initial data
- pre-design works
- general design
- author's supervision
This project was not born from a desire to change the building’s appearance. It began with a conversation about how the community lives today and what the space that accompanies them every day—not just during Sunday service—looks like. The “Source of Life” church has long been a place for meetings, education, children’s programs, family support, and volunteer initiatives. The existing building could no longer accommodate these scenarios—neither physically nor functionally. The space lacked flexibility, separate environments for different age groups, safe zones, and a shelter. The architecture had fallen behind the life happening within it.
We worked not with a single building, but with the question of how to create a complex that unites sacred, educational, and social functions within one cohesive environment. The solution was to reimagine the entire territory: the reconstruction of the existing prayer hall and administrative rooms is complemented by a new multifunctional volume. As a result, the scale of the complex grows from a compact building with a footprint of about 394 m² to a full-fledged environment with a total footprint of 1292 m², meeting the community’s real needs. Together, they form a structure in which different interaction formats coexist naturally, without dividing into “primary” and “secondary.”
3D neighborhood scheme
The architectural language here is intentionally restrained. As the site is surrounded by diverse types of buildings, the new volumes do not strive to become dominant. Instead, they work through scale, light, and proportions, creating a calm backdrop for community life. We moved away from literal symbolism, leaving only a sense of openness and clarity, where the space is easily read by intuition.The interior is organized around the prayer hall but is not confined by it. Classrooms, children’s rooms, and spaces for family programs and meetings are positioned so that the complex can operate in various modes throughout the week. This allows the building to remain vibrant and active at all times, not just during services.
Reconstruction of existing building
Functional zoning scheme
Utility scheme
The facades are built on a combination of light plaster as a neutral plane and glass surfaces with a gradient enamel coating. Ceramic printing technology allows light to penetrate deep into the interior while maintaining a delicate boundary of privacy. In the evening, the building does not impose itself on the exterior but glows softly, becoming a part of the environment rather than a detached object.
The multifunctional building completes the logic of the complex, not by duplicating existing functions, but by scaling and reimagining them based on established human flows and needs.
Safety and accessibility were vital components of the project. The shelter is integrated into the overall structure, while barrier-free entrances, adapted sanitary facilities, and intuitive routes are established as fundamental principles rather than additional features. Universal design operates invisibly here, yet it defines the comfort of every user.
Multifunctional building
Functional zoning scheme
Utility scheme
For our team, this project became an example of how contemporary sacred architecture can be quiet yet profoundly present. It does not strive for effect or impose form; instead, it creates an environment that supports the community and is capable of evolving alongside it. It is a space where the spiritual, the everyday, and the social are not separated but naturally intertwined—just as they are in real life.
