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Christ Cathedral Arboretum

Garden Grove Community Church
Excellent
  • Modern Movement
  • Identity of Building/Site
  • History of Building/Site

Christ Cathedral Arboretum

Credit

© Christian Costea Photography, Inc.

Site overview

The Arboretum at the Garden Grove Community Church, originally known as the Neutra Sanctuary, was conceived by church founder Rev. Robert H. Schuller and designed by Richard Neutra in 1960, completed in 1961. Schuller, promoting his “Come as You Are in the Family Car!” motto, was able, via a balcony that extended outside, to move fluidly between the inside of the sanctuary and the outside. Visitors could sit inside, outside in chairs on the lawn, or in their cars in the parking lot. The Arboretum recently underwent an extensive renovation and retrofit, winning five prestigious design awards including a Design Citation of Merit from Docomomo. The restoration included the development of a new window system to sensitively replicate Neutra’s original design as well as the rehabilitation of deteriorated fountains and reflection pools, and interior finishes. (adapted from the Diocese of Orange Crystal Cathedral website)

Awards

Design

Citation of Merit

Civic

2014

The jury awards a Citation of Merit for the restoration of the Arboretum on the Christ Cathedral campus in Garden Grove, California. The jury notes the impressive effort to reinforce and strengthen the original structure, hide new air conditioning systems, while retaining the original design intent. Designed in 1961 by Richard Neutra as a ‘drive-in church’, the restoration included the development of a new window system to sensitively replicate the original design as well as the rehabilitation of deteriorated fountains and reflection pools, and interior finishes.

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Client

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange

Restoration Team
  • LPA Inc. (architect)
  • Cannon Building (general contractor)
  • Davis Partners/Hager Pacific Properties (construction managers)
  • Lamprecht archiTEXTural (consulting architect)

How to Visit

Open to the public

Location

13280 Chapman Avenue
Garden Grove, CA, 92840

Country

US
More visitation information

Case Study House No. 21

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Credit:

© Christian Costea Photography, Inc.

Related chapter

Southern California

Commission

1960

Completion

1961

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