Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Architectural Wonder - the Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland


DSCN7133 _ Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California

Recently, I chanced by Lake Merritt in Oakland and noticed a plaza equipped with a nice little fountain, in front of a glass paneled cylinder building, whose rather dull fortress shape at first failed to impress me then as I walked to the other side of the street, the building suddenly became mightily impressive, with half of its cylinder back-lit and bulk became candy-like translucent and visually engaging.

DSCN7136 _ Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California

Later, on the same day, I was told that the intriguing structure was a cathedral, Cathedral of Christ the Light, and it also had an interesting interior warranting a visit.  As soon as I entered, I was quite stunned by the bold, simplistic yet intricate patterns created by many architectural elements - lattice walls, geometric "columns" and boat-shaped ceilings, etc., just underneath the class panel skins.  I had a strong feeling that I was inside the hull of a gigantic ship - Noah's Ark, perhaps? 

DSCN7203 _ Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California

DSCN7202 _ Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California

DSCN7205 _ Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California

DSCN7143 _ Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California

DSCN7194 _ Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California

DSCN7185 _ Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California DSCN7170 _ Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California

The cathedral was definitely one of the kind and its modernistic features strangely generated as much spirituality as conventional ones if not more.

DSCN7160 _ Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California

DSCN7174 _ Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California

DSCN7177 _ Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California





DSCN7165 _ Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California

DSCN7181 _ Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California DSCN7183 _ Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California

DSCN7184 _ Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California

Even the chairs and paneled dividers reiterated the patterns of the cylinder walls and their simplistic beauty and eloquence was simultaneously humble and ethereal.

DSCN7162 _ Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California

DSCN7199 _ Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California

DSCN7201 _ Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California

DSCN7157 _ Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California

DSCN7169 _ Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California

DSCN7156 _ Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California

There were other elements of interests in the cathedral, but they paled somewhat comparing to the basic building structures.

DSCN7206 _ Cathedral of Christ the Light, 
Oakland, California

DSCN7193 _ Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California

DSCN7179 _ Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California

DSCN7207 _ Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California DSCN7190 _ Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California

DSCN7189 _ Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California

DSCN7155 _ Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California

I was encouraged to visit a crypt at the lower level, Crypt of the Holy Angels, which had air of comforting and mystery, with many juxtaposing interesting visual elements throughout its long corridors.

DSCN7247 _ Crypt o the Holy Angels, Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California

DSCN7230 _ Crypt of the Holy Angels, Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California

DSCN7242 _ Crypt of the Holy Angels, Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California

DSCN7212 _ Crypt of the Holy Angels, 
Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California

DSCN7235 _ Crypt of the Holy Angels, 
Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California

DSCN7215 _ Crypt of the Holy Angels, Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California DSCN7234 _ Crypt of the Holy Angels, Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California
DSCN7227 _ Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California DSCN7231 _ Crypt of the Holy Angels, Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California

DSCN7242 _ Crypt of the Holy Angels, Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California

DSCN7249 _ Michelangelo's Pietà, Cathedral of Christ the Ligth, Oakland, California
Reproduction of Michelangelo's Pietà

This amazing cathedral building helped to change my perception of Oakland, the poor cousin of its more glamorous San Francisco across the Bay. 

It is safe to say that even if "there is no there there," Oakland still boasts some architectural gems, such as the Cathedral and several others from earlier era, such as the Sears Department Store, I. Magnin Building and Paramount Theater, all of them I walked by on my way to BART (subway) station from Cathedral of Christ the Light.

DSCN7271 _ Sears Department Store, Oakland, California
Sears Department Store

DSCN7270 _ I. Magnin Building, Oakland, California
I. Magnin Building

DSCN7268 _ Paramount Theatre, Oakland, California
Paramount Theatre


Related posts on Art · 文化 · Kunst:
- Pixar Exhibit and Newly Renovated Oakland Museum of California
- Opening of "Free Art" at Pro Arts Gallery, Oakland
- New East Span of San Francisco Bay Bridge
- A Day at Palace of Fine Arts & Crissy Field in San Francisco

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