Program: Design a small non-denominational wedding and meditation chapel in a wooded, semi-rural setting in the gold country northeast of San Francisco. The site includes a waterfall and stream. The dominant materials are to be stone and glass. The building will be “off the grid” and requires a solar energy system. Floor plan is approximately 2,900 square feet. Base the plan and elevation on a fluid but crystalline geometry. Begin by creating a symbol representing the marriage union and then evolve it into a usable module or organizing principle. Solution: To develop an organizing module and grid, I began by creating a symbol of two intertwined ribbons which represented the marriage union. Then I evolved this into a more angular and crystalline symbol. Finally from this symbol, I laid out a geometric grid, and reflected it around a single point. The floor plan and parts of the elevation use this grid as an organizing principle. The central point on the grid is where the wedding service area takes place. Solar panels are oriented to the south for maximum sun exposure and plenty of glass is used for natural light and impressive views of the waterfall. Limestone is used for the exterior walls, travertine for the interior walls and marble for the floors. Symbolic Module and Grid