Order,form & delineation
Collins Street Baptist Church,recorded as the first Baptist church in Victoria,was initially designed by John Gill in 1845. However, by the end of 1850s, the congregation had exceeds its space. The new extension of the church became a matter of urgency. Consequently, Joseph Reed, the architect who designed the Melbourne Town Hall, was appointed to take charge of the project. (www.csbc.org.au )Reed "demolished the original structure and incorporated it into the new one in 1862". (Cited from vhd.heritage.vic.gov.au/places/result_detail/725?print=true)
The church is presented in a neo-Greek style with classic plain white façade and four giant Corinthian columns placed …show more content…
However compared with typical Gothic style that characterizes high pointed roof and heavy volume, this church presents a relatively light expression without placing a sacred stress on people. The four columns extend upward appear to elevate vertically to higher prominence,enhancing the height visually and the heavily volumetric roof rests on them,emphasizing the grandness of the church. Every single component contributes to the overall design of the church and are carefully proportioned to form a whole.The strictly symmetrical geometry of the structure renders the building to be solemn and harmonious. The rigidity of the plan allows accommodation of up to 450 to …show more content…
On the other hand, these external walls with windows are adjacent to the surrounding building,along with the wall fronting Collins Street completely seals the front side of the church,there is no much fluid passage between inside and outside,implying an independence of the church with the urban environment.