His secret? An album changed church architecture! Ever heard of…
His secret? An album changed church architecture!
Ever heard of an architect pumping out OVER A THOUSAND churches in mid-19th century Russia? Sounds nuts, right? How could one dude be that productive? Well, there was a secret sauce! Russia decided to streamline the whole church design game in the first half of the 19th century by rolling out an album of “model projects.” Think of it like a greatest hits collection, but for holy buildings!
The mastermind behind this game-changer was the legendary Konstantin Thon – and get this, he’s the same guy who designed the jaw-dropping Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow! Talk about a legacy! This album wasn’t a one-and-done deal; it got several makeovers, with updates and tweaks over the years. But Thon’s original genius ideas became the blueprint for a staggering number of churches, not just across Russia, but even spilling over into other parts of the world.
Hold onto your hats: some eagle-eyed researchers reckon that the St. Michael the Archangel Orthodox Cathedral right here in Sitka, Alaska, actually has its roots in one of Thon’s model project designs from that very album! How cool is that for a cross-continental connection? The final edition of this influential album, which dropped in the late 19th century, was packed with over 20 diverse designs – from charming little wooden chapels to seriously impressive stone cathedrals. And yes, it even included elements and principles from his magnum opus, the Christ the Savior Cathedral. So, theoretically, you could’ve had a slice of Moscow’s grandeur built in, say, Podunk, Idaho!
Seriously though, imagine if we had something like that today! An album of pre-approved, canon-compliant church designs, using modern materials and building codes. Think of the time and money it would save parishes and private groups wanting to build new sacred spaces. Costs, timelines, resources – all mapped out. It could totally simplify things! Definitely some food for thought for the future, right? We’re parking that idea here!
What do you think? Could a modern “Thon’s Album” work today? Let me know below! #molodin #architectmolodin #churcharchitecture
