Churches have long been essential parts of the community that provide a safe place for people to gather and worship, effectively creating a community within a community. Places of worship have existed since ancient times, and while they are all different, one thing never changed: the importance of their design. Even the simplest of church structures and places of worship were carefully designed with beautiful interiors. The exterior was no different, which remains true today, with church exterior design essential to the overall church design.
A church’s exterior design is essential for many reasons. It serves as a reflection of the church’s identity and values, and provides a welcoming sense of community. Beyond that, it can create a feeling of security and safety with a beautiful but strong presence that withstands the elements. It can provide reassurance and fill the community with hope that there is a pillar of strength, resilience, and faith even in the most challenging times.
Church Building Design Ideas
Like all building designs, church designs take time and planning to ensure that everything is correct and the design is suitable for the church. There is no specific way for a church to look, which provides freedom to the design process. Here are some church building design ideas to inspire your creativity:
1. Mix Materials and Textures
Mixing materials and textures is one of the church design ideas to consider. Stucco, bricks, metal, wood, and stone are popular materials with different textures. By combining materials and textures, you can create a more dynamic and visually striking design that can enhance the overall appearance of the church. Depending on what you use, you can create anything from an old-world feel to a modern church design.
2. Use Unique Roofing Materials
While homes often use common materials like asphalt shingles, a church is a perfect opportunity to use more high-end materials, which provide many benefits. For one, high-end materials will offer better aesthetics, with materials like slate tiles and Spanish barrel tiles offering an old-world elegance that is often associated with European churches. Higher-end materials also provide more durability and longevity.
For the most durability, consider synthetic roofing from Brava, which offers realistic, lightweight, and highly durable Spanish barrel, slate, and cedar shake styles. These roofing tiles are an excellent option for traditional and modern church exterior design ideas, with a beautiful array of color options that ensure a perfect match for any church design.
3. Install Large Windows
Large windows are another exterior design idea. By incorporating large windows into the design, you are letting in more natural light, which creates warmth and a connection with nature. When the windows are ornate and filled with stained glass panels, the panels will also reflect beautiful colors onto the floors and walls, which adds to the overall church-going experience.
They also work as one of the more modern church design ideas, especially when paired with more modern materials like brick and metal.
4. Add a Dome
If you’re constructing a new church, a dome is another design idea you can incorporate. Domes are an architectural feature used on churches throughout history; in Christianity, they have long been a symbol of the heavens. They also symbolize grandeur by creating an awe-inspiring exterior that makes it instantly recognizable among the community members, even those who do not attend the church.
5. Add Landscaping Around the Property
Church design ideas aren’t only connected with the building, they also involve the surrounding landscaping. The landscaping around a church is crucial in creating an inviting atmosphere that enhances the architecture. Creating a peaceful courtyard can provide a quiet place for prayer, meditation, or personal conversations. It also provides an opportunity to brighten the space with beautiful seasonal flowers and plants that can help bring beauty and joy to the area.
From a more practical standpoint, landscaping, especially trees, can help provide shade to help minimize energy usage.
6. Have an All Brick Exterior
One of the more contemporary church design ideas to have is an all-brick exterior. By using brick instead of stone, you are giving the church a more modern appearance. The strength and durability of brick can also be seen as symbolism for the strength of the church, and the warmth of the color will provide a welcoming, friendly feel.
7. Make the Bell Tower the Focal Point
Bell towers are a common feature of churches all over the world. They can also serve as focal points of churches and are one of the most traditional church building design ideas that you can include. There are countless possibilities for bell towers, from Gothic-style towers with ornate designs and tall spires to cleaner, more minimalistic towers that work well with modern church design ideas.
8. Keep the Exterior White
Color can play an important role in church design. White symbolizes purity, peace, and holiness—a perfect option for any church exterior. It can reinforce the church's spiritual nature, a reminder that it is a place of worship. White is a color that works well with both traditional and modern church exterior design ideas, which makes it a timeless, flexible option. You can pair it with other materials, from brick and stone accents to slate roofing to create beautiful exteriors.
Church Exterior Design Holds Endless Possibilities
There are endless design possibilities, whether you are considering more contemporary church design ideas or traditional options. These are just a few of the many, and when paired with a Brava roof, you have the perfect finished design. Brava tiles provide superior durability and longevity, with top fire and impact ratings and wind resistance. With numerous color options, you can find the perfect option to complement your church exterior.
Contact Brava today to learn more about our roofing products and how they are the perfect addition to your church exterior design!
