Andrew MacNair’s Egg Chapel Was Handrafted by Shipbuilders and Assembled by a Local Family in South Korea

Handcrafted by old-school <a href="http://inhabitat.com/the-8500-havana-tsunami-survival-pod-can-withstand-6-tons-of-debris/" target="_blank">shipbuilders</a> and assembled on-site by a local family in Munho-ri, near Seoul, the Egg Chapel is a beautiful example of original architectural work constructed with the support of a local community. The small, non-denominational pilgrimage destination was designed by New York-based architect <a href="http://www.andrewmacnairarchitect.com/" target="_blank">Andrew MacNair</a> to provide an intimate space for weddings, baptisms and anniversaries in the South Korean town.

Christians consider the egg to be „the seed of life“, symbol of birth and rebirth; an apparently lifeless object out of which comes life.

Supporting the base ring are 6 round concrete columns, which help anchor the wood chapel to the ground.

The Chapel is 30 feet high, 14 feet wide at the floor and 22 feet wide at its maximum girth.

Situated high in the mountains of Yangpyeong County, the chapel entrance faces south so that direct afternoon sunlight can illuminate the center and bathe the altar in daylight.

It is built on top of a concrete crypt — a structural foundation and underground quiet room.

The wood parts were handcrafted by boat builders in Rhode Island, New York, and then shipped in 12 vertical sections to Inchon in South Korea.

The position of the openings and the sheltering cylindrical shape reinforce the spiritual experience of the space.