AN ECO-CATHEDRAL BUILT IN KOKSTAD

AN ECO-CATHEDRAL made from indigenous stone and thatch, which has a 50 metre-long nave that is open to the sky, has been built by the Church of the Province of South Africa (CPSA) in Kokstad.

This building, which has been named after Peter Masiza the first black Anglican priest in CPSA, was designed by Professor Rodney Harber of the University of Natal in Durban.

Prof Harber is known for among other architectural idioms his use of environmentally-friendly concepts.A large portion of his projects have been in rural areas with inadequate budgets. While working on these projects, he has had to make use of local material and traditional builders.

The focal point of the eco-cathedral is a semi-circular stone chapel that acts as the chancel and sanctuary of a much larger cathedral, the nave of which is open to the sky.

The outline of the 50 metre-long open-air nave that goes down to the bottom of a slope is defined by two parallel trellises of poles. The row of poles are on seven platforms which symbolise the "stations of the cross".

A shade cloth is suspended between the trellis for the congregation during big diocesan occasions such as ordinations. The font, which symbolises the entrance of the cathedral, is used both for sprinkling and total immersion.

"It is really a most impressive building," says Bishop Geoff Davies of the Diocese of Umzimvubu. "This Gothic semi-circular stone chapel is the focal point of our conference and training centre and really is inspiring.