Ka Don church comes second at sacred architecture competition

Lam Dong, June 20 (VNA) – Brimming with novel structures such as a tile roof and a wood-framed glass wall system doubling with a series of sliding doors, Ka Don Church in Vietnam's Central Highlands province of Lam Dong has won second prize at the 6th International Prize for Sacred Architecture for Christian Religious Buildings worldwide. The church, which features the culture of the Chu-ru ethnic minority group, was designed by architects Vu Thi Thu Huong and Nguyen Tuan Dung. Using simple local materials like pine wood, the church enhances its relationship with nature by the opening of spaces outward. The ecclesiastical building opened in July, 2014 after four years of construction, to offer a place of worship for the faithful. Previously, in 2011, the design of the church won the European Prize for Sacred Architecture. First prize in this recent architectural competition went to the church of San Sebastian in Spain, while the new Saint Trinitatis Church in Germany came in third place, after the Vietnamese entry. The award was held by the Frate Sole Foundation, which was created with the aim of stimulating awareness of the need for excellent churches and with the intention of giving active encouragement to their construction./.