Thorncrown Chapel was designed by world renowned architect E. Fay Jones. Fay was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas in 1921. He studied under his mentor Frank Lloyd Wright at the Taliesin Fellowship.
Constructed in 1980, Thorncrown rises forty-eight feet in the Ozark sky, nestled in the woods of Eureka Springs, AR. The stunningly beautiful chapel has 425 windows and over 6000 sq. ft. of glass. Resting on 100 tons of native flagstone it was designed to blend into its Ozark Mountain setting.
In order to preserve Thorncrown’s natural setting, Fay decided that no structural element could be larger than what two men could carry through the woods. The building materials are primarily pressure treated pine 2x4s, 2x6s, and 2x12s. The larger elements of the building such as the trusses were assembled on the floor and raised into place.
Light, shadows, and reflections play a major role in Thorncrown’s ambiance. Because of the chapel’s elaborate trusses and the surrounding trees, constantly changing patterns of light and shadow appear during the day. At night reflections of the crosses in the lights appear to surround the entire building. Consequently, Thorncrown never looks quite the same. Its appearance changes during each hour of the day and during the different seasons of the year.
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Thorncrown Chapel is one of the most beautiful chapels in the world in my opinion and Eureka Springs is one of the most unique places you can visit. For anyone interested in a great place to stay while in the area, come stay at Eagles Nest Manor.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from high atop Cypress Point at The Eagles Nest Manor! Our views are simply amazing and our accommodations are equaled by few. Luxury is recognized from the time you arrive in the driveway, all the way through the house to the simplest bedroom. Eagles Nest Manor, is a luxury vacation home that will accommodate 14 people comfortably, and up to 18 by using the hide-a-bed couches and love seats! With an upstairs living-sitting room and a downstairs den and two levels of huge decks, there is ample room to spread out and enjoy your own space or gather in the huge dining room, living room and open kitchen for family time and fellowship. The house is located 10 minutes from downtown Eureka Springs and only an hour from Branson, Missouri. It's a 5 minute drive to the marina on Table Rock Lake and less than that to the 18 hole golf course. All located at Holiday Island, a resort retirement community just north of Eureka Springs.
Check us out at www.hoteleurekasprings.net