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Controversial architect’s tiny chapel is ‘a place to spend a moment or five’
Michael O'Sullivan has built a tiny chapel in Lyttelton. St Thérèse of Lisieux is a gift to the people of Christchurch.
AI summary
Architect Michael O'Sullivan has built the Chapel of St Thérèse of Lisieux, a tiny 17m² gift to the people of Christchurch. Located in Lyttelton, it offers a private, spiritual space for contemplation or prayer, inspired by the "joy of smallness."
Key design features include:
- A triangular door symbolizing the Trinity
- An interior lined with ancient rimu timber
- A heart kauri carving of Jesus by artist Johnny Hauraki
The chapel provides a quiet, accessible place for anyone to visit.
New Zealand artist Johnny Hauraki carved the life-size statue of Jesus on the cross from heart kauri timber beams rescued from a Christchurch warehouse damaged in the earthquakes.
The joy of smallness
The chapel is available to anyone wishing to pause in their day - the O’Sullivan family wants people to “come and enjoy it, and respect it”.
The sculpture has one arm raised and one lowered to represent Jesus on the threshold of Christianity.
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