Controversial architect’s tiny chapel is ‘a place to spend a moment or five’

Renowned, controversial architect Michael O’Sullivan has long held a wish to give something back to the people of Christchurch - a private, spiritual place where anyone can go “to spend a moment, or five”.

And he has accomplished exactly what he set out to do. His tiny, 17m² Chapel of St Thérèse of Lisieux sits on a hillside overlooking Lyttelton Harbour, Whakaraupō, right next to the Bull O’Sullivan Architecture studio and home base.

“The lack of suitable worship spaces in the Banks Peninsula area and the loss of Lyttelton’s Catholic church prompted this mostly,” O’Sullivan says. “But, this is also a way of giving back to a city that has given me so much by way of work, and the opportunity to build the Lyttelton studio/monastery.”

The architect says in today’s society, a lot of people don’t want to go ‘to church’, but they will venture into a small spiritual place by themselves. “This is such a space - it may be a place for worship and prayer, contemplation, or simply for showing gratitude.”

The chapel borrows its name from the Carmelite nun affectionately known as The Little Flower, who developed a simple and humble approach to spiritual life called The Little Way.

“The triangular door is a play on the Trinity - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It’s quite a ceremonial entry point,” O’Sullivan says. “Alongside the entrance there is a little seat for you to take your shoes off before you enter the space.”

The interior is lined with a native rimu timber from a tree extracted from a river in the deep south west of the South Island. “It is reputed to have been in that river for 600 years. And before that, it was alive for 1000 years. There is something quite beautiful about the idea that this tree came to fruition a few hundred years after Jesus Christ walked the planet.”

The key feature of the interior is a life-size carving of Jesus and the cross, by New Zealand artist Johnny Hauraki. It is carved from heart kauri timber beams rescued from an earthquake-damaged warehouse in the Christchurch city.

“The intention was to represent Jesus at the threshold of Christianity, which is the beginning of the resurrection, and that is why one arm is down,” O’Sullivan says.

The chocolate-coloured carpet is 100% New Zealand wool, and the kneeler was made by Glenn Whatmough of the Smithery. It, too, is carved from heart kauri.

Although completed recently, the chapel, at 23B Walkers Rd, Lyttelton, was blessed by the Catholic Bishop of Christchurch, Michael Gielen a year ago, on October 1, which is the day of celebration of the life of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux.

Note: The use of the word “controversial” relates to O’Sullivan’s bold, uncompromising approach to architecture that has caused debate over the years. His recent concept drawings of a highrise development on Puketutu Island is one example. Another is O’Sullivan’s award-winning Grand Designs project in Cass Bay.