Panel Discussion
Architecture of Light: From St. Peter’s Basilica to Three Modernist Spaces
Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at Saint Peter's Church with panel at 7:00 p.m.
As a photographer, Marco Anelli continues to seek out inspiring examples of shadow and light: elements that, when perfected, evoke an emotional and spiritual response in an architectural setting. When that setting is St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, the result is nothing short of awe. Anelli’s current exhibition at Saint Peter’s Church, Saint Peter’s: Views from Church and Basilica, features his photography project as the official Vatican Restoration photographer. The Basilica is juxtaposed with the interior of another Saint Peter’s – this one with interiors by Lella and Massimo Vignelli. This compare and contrast between historic and modern examples of architecture is what guides our panel discussion.
But how does light work in general, especially in other celebrated modernist spaces? In this panel discussion, we explore how the designers of three such spaces – Saint Peter’s Church in New York City, Magazzino Italian Art in Cold Spring, NY, and Rothko Chapel in Houston, TX – integrated the setting’s natural light to fascinate, inspire contemplation and reflection, and enhance the interaction between visitors and the content of the space.
Panelists include:
Miguel Quismondo, AIA, Founder and Principal of MQ Architecture, designer and builder of Magazzino Italian Art, leading the redevelopment of water-damaged areas in Saint Peter’s Church
Adam Yarinsky, FAIA, Cofounder and Principal of Architecture Research Office, leader of the restoration of Rothko Chapel
Angela Wolf Scott, AIA, Principal and CEO of MacDonald & Mack Architects (licensed in the State of Minnesota), historic preservation consultant and leader of Saint Peter’s Church Sanctuary Restoration
The panel will be moderated by Caitlin Watson, AIA, board member of The Architecture, Culture and Spirituality Forum (ACSF), and writer on public space, focusing on the intersection of art and architecture.
This panel was inspired by "Saint Peter's: Views from Church and Basilica,” an exhibition at Saint Peter’s Church featuring Marco Anelli's black-and-white photographs of St. Peter's Basilica, paired with three large prints of his portraits of the church’s Vignelli-designed sanctuary organ following its restoration.
Learn more about Saint Peter’s rebuilding and and another Design Week event, “Vignelli Legacy: A Celebration at Saint Peter’s” on May 20, 2024, at future.saintpeters.org/modernism.
Doors open at 6:00 p.m. The panel starts at 7:00 p.m., with a reception and open house to follow.