North Christian Church / Eero Saarinen | Classics on Architecture Lab

Architects: Eero Saarinen
Year: 1964
Photographs: Danube66, Noktulo, Hassan Bagheri, Greg Hume, Wikimedia Commons, Nancy Aurand-Humpf , Carol M. Highsmith
City: Columbus
Country: United States

The North Christian Church in Columbus, Indiana, designed by Eero Saarinen and completed in 1964, explores the relationship between faith, nature, and architecture. Its hexagonal form and 192-foot spire symbolically connect heaven and Earth. Commissioned by J. Irwin Miller, the design separates primary worship functions, housed above ground, from auxiliary spaces, embedded below. The sanctuary’s central altar, surrounded by ripple-like seating, draws focus inward, while the entry sequence emphasizes a spiritual journey. A cast-in-place concrete ceiling illuminated by an oculus and dim lighting enhances the intimate, transcendent atmosphere, complemented by gray slate floors and mahogany pews. Critiquing modern trends that deprioritize sanctuaries, Saarinen re-centers worship with a sweeping form from ground to sky. Completed posthumously, the church, now a National Historic Landmark, remains an icon of Saarinen’s legacy and postwar American architecture.

Just off the highway leading to Columbus, Indiana, a slender spire rises dramatically above the tree line. Topped with a small gold cross hinting at its purpose, the spire appears otherworldly, an expressive form reaching skyward and extending beyond its visible peak. As visitors draw closer, the spire’s base spreads outward, merging seamlessly with the ground, symbolically bridging the heavens and Earth. This striking structure is the North Christian Church, Eero Saarinen’s remarkable exploration of the interplay between God, nature, and architecture.

Even in Columbus, a city celebrated for its exceptional collection of modern architecture, the North Christian Church stands out as particularly remarkable. Eero Saarinen was chosen to design the building in February 1959, already an esteemed figure in the city for his successful designs of the private residence of local patron J. Irwin Miller and the nearby Irwin Union Bank. Miller, a wealthy engine factory owner and passionate advocate for modern architecture, played a pivotal role in attracting renowned architects like I.M. Pei, Robert Venturi, Eliel Saarinen, Richard Meier, and Cesar Pelli to Columbus. As a member of the church’s building committee, Miller reportedly selected Saarinen for the project without requiring him to present any examples of his work. [1] When Saarinen tragically passed away before the church’s completion, the construction became a tribute to his memory and significant contributions to the city.

As characteristic of Saarinen’s designs, the geometry of the North Christian Church reflects both simplicity and structural ingenuity. The church’s plan takes the form of a hexagon, slightly elongated along the East-West axis, with entrances located on its shorter sides. Massive piers at each corner of the hexagon support the structural ribs of the roof, which converge at the roof’s apex and extend upward into a spire. The building reaches an impressive height of 192 feet, narrowly avoiding the 200-foot threshold that would have compelled the reluctant architect to install an airplane beacon atop the gold cross.

Inside, the sculpted lines of the cast-in-place concrete ceiling elegantly reflect the angular geometries of the church’s plan, creating a commanding presence over the worship space below. Natural light filters through a single oculus positioned above the central altar, enhanced by dim artificial lighting that plays across the smooth concrete ceiling. A palette of dark, natural materials—including gray slate floors and mahogany pews—contributes to the cave-like atmosphere, fostering intimacy and solemnity.

The renowned design of the North Christian Church emerged as Saarinen’s response to shifts he observed in contemporary religious architecture. He noted that modern sanctuaries often became secondary considerations within sprawling complexes, which included gathering spaces, classrooms, and recreational lounges. While Saarinen did not view an expanded religious presence as inherently negative, he was concerned that these trends diverted focus away from worship, effectively de-centering God in religious spaces. He aimed to create a building that addressed contemporary needs while preserving the church’s primary purpose as a sacred space for worship and spiritual connection.

Saarinen articulated his priorities programmatically by clearly distinguishing between the church’s primary and secondary functions and situating them on separate floors. The aboveground level is dedicated to the expansive central sanctuary and the surrounding ambulatory, emphasizing worship as the building’s primary purpose. In contrast, secondary spaces such as the bathrooms, kitchen, and fellowship hall are buried underground, both literally and symbolically placed beneath the worship space to reinforce their subordinate role.

The sanctuary’s layout emphasizes the centrality of worship with a unique, centrally positioned altar. The seating arrangement radiates outward and upward in ripple-like rings, naturally focusing the congregation’s attention on the altar and encouraging active participation in the service. The entry sequence adds to this effect, requiring visitors to “climb into” the sanctuary by ascending with the landscape before descending into the worship space, highlighting the altar as a focal point of destination and arrival. [2] The church’s singular gesture—a seamless sweep from ground to sky—further reinforces its clear and focused purpose as an ideal place of worship.

The architecture, combining earthy materials with dramatic formal geometries, seeks to create a religious atmosphere that is intimate, unique, and transcendent. The stark experiential shifts during the transition from the exterior to the interior are purposefully crafted to magnify the worshipper’s spiritual journey.

Just one month after submitting the final version of his design, Eero Saarinen passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 51, cutting short the career of one of the twentieth century’s most accomplished and promising architects. The North Christian Church, a project he held in high regard, became the last building he ever designed. Since its completion, its otherworldly form has been replicated numerous times and has become one of the most iconic symbols of Columbus. In 2000, just thirty-six years after its completion, the church was designated a National Historic Landmark, underscoring its significance to the city and its enduring impact on postwar American architecture.

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Address: 850 Tipton Lane, Columbus, Indiana 47201, United States

Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.