Elvis Presley Wedding Chapel

The effects of sequined jumpsuits and gyrating hips inspire this project to transform the classical concept of rustication. The massing of this project is developed from an irregular torus volume that makes a smooth transition at the prominent corner of the site, and defines an interior courtyard. Formal-spatial characteristics are developed as the surfaces of this primitive shape begin to undulate and twist. Patterning and ornamentation enhance the curvature of the surfaces and delineate an opaque base and a transparent top. The base blends with the ground and opens to create entry and aperture. The top is more volumetric and articulated with lithe structural loops and twisting aggregate ornament. These elements also reflect the organization of interior spatial volumes by directing an ascending spiral procession. In contrast to the hard, encrusted surfaces of the exterior, the interior surfaces are smooth and supple, creating an ethereal atmosphere. This project reconfigures the traditional tripartite application of surface detail and reinvents the exterior surface expression of interior space through topological transformation.