The Martyr Shrine stands on the “pilgrimage path” of the parish, linking three primary structures?namely, the cathedral, the shrine, and the natural water surface?forming a “sacred” axis that extends the length of the site in the north-south direction. This sacred journey culminates at the Martyr Shrine, characterized by a relatively sturdy and enclosed architectural design. The main hall, structurally crafted to evoke a sense of compression and weight, deliberately lowers the roof height by the field of vision.
© Hoang Le
Martyr Shrine’s Design Concept
In contrast to its external appearance, the Martyr Shrine reveals a significant design shift upon entering the interior. The holy temple is intentionally configured to unveil a vast opening in the harem, oriented towards the water and the natural greenery encompassing the land’s northern boundary. The alternating “Closed” and “opened” elements within this series of structures?comprising the closed church, open landscape, closed temple, and available natural landscape?contribute to a heightened transformation in the visitor’s experience. This deliberate play between enclosed and open spaces emphasizes the sense of movement and journeys in the master plan, diverging from architectural elements while concurrently upholding the intention of extending a continuous “sacred” axis towards nature throughout the planning process. © Hoang Le
In this master ...