January_1966 — Page 67

an honest expression of the structure and materials."

The Loyola Retreat House has four principal structures: the retreat- ants' chapel which serves as the cen- tre of the whole group: the east wing. reserved for the Jesuit community; the west wing or retreatants' area; and the cloister which connects the rest of the buildings.

The retreatants' chapel is the main axis running from north to south and dominates the composition of the group. The most used area, the chapel building, houses other elements besides the chapel, namely, the con- ference hall, library and machine room, all of which are situated in the basement.

Also located in the basement are the shrines of St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, and Francis Xavier, another Jesuit saint: and the outdoor Stations of the Cross.

Structurally, the chapel facade con- sists of clear and stain glass walls. During daytime the clear glass flank- ing the stain glass at the centre gives depth to the narthex as the continu- ous vaulting of the roof and the side walls are viewed from the patio.

Wide entrance glass doors with clear glass transom extending from the top of the doors to the ceiling. divide the narthex from the chapel's interior. The partitions, of hardwood and clear glass combined. make the

PHILIPPINES

narthex an element of transition be- tween the outside world and the sanc- tuary.

The nave leading to a well-lighted sanctuary, was designed to accommo- date 51 seats with eight kneelers at the rear row of the pews. It is en- closed by curtain walls of small win- dows and panel paintings of the 14 Stations of the Cross, and roofed by intersecting concrete planes and vault- ings, acoustically built.

Vertically, it is accentuated by the continuous columns and ribs which make an interlacing pattern on the vaulting. Ducts are built-in to enable air-conditioning to be installed in the future.

Day or night, the sanctuary is the brightest spot in the chapel. Day- light comes from the patio by means of the floor-to-ceiling windows on every side. At night, light with con- cealed reflectors illumines the sanc- tuary where the altar table of black marble stands on a white marble platform elevated three steps above the floor.

The ambulatory comprises 15 small altars for the use of priests and retreatants. Each element symbolizes a mystery of the Holy Rosary, while projecting panels, treated acoustically, separate every altar and minimize in- terference when one is being used. A

Far East Architect & Builder January, 1966

!

View of west wing, or retreatants' area

common sacristy is conveniently situated behind the main altar and at the centre of the ambulatory.

Concentrated in one building, the retreatants' living rooms are situated in the west wing, commanding a view of the lake. They are close to the areas used mostly by the retreatants. namely, the chapel, refectory, rosary lanes and shrines. Toilets and bath rooms are located at the end of each corridor.

For every floor of the west wing too, one moderator's living room is provided, with its own private bath and toilet facilities, so that retreatants can easily avail themselves of a mo- derator's advice.

A small sitting room and a balcony overlook Laguna de Bay and give

Staircase leading to roof deck

more space for the priest and retreat- ants in their private talks.

The east wing embraces the office near the entrance and the Jesuit com- munity quarters, and is adjacent to the parlour, with the infirmary beside the office. The Jesuit Fathers' living area, dining hall, kitchen and scullery, library and domestic chapel are on the second floor, while the lay- brothers' clausura is on the first floor linked to the service area by a cover- ed corridor.

This wing includes the garage with storage compartments, delivery and store rooms in the basement. The refectory, near the pantry and acces- sible through a cloister, has space for 55 diners including the Jesuit com- munity.

57