smac97 Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 So on 11/24 the Church announced that the Provo Temple will be renovated and re-designed to look like this: See here: Quote The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a rendering Wednesday of what the iconic sanctuary will look like after it is remodeled. The temple will remain in its current location but be unrecognizable from its current form. The rounded temple, designed by then-church architect Emil Fetzer, opened in 1972, just weeks after its architectural twin, the Ogden Temple — the only other temple with a similar, circular design — was dedicated. That temple was rebuilt as a more traditional structure as well and reopened in 2014. “The Ogden and Provo temples evoke a Space Age symbolism, a streamlined Saturn V rocket propelling the Apollo module beyond the terrestrial frontiers and into the great void of space,” Steven Cornell and Kirk Huffaker wrote in The Salt Lake Tribune in 2010. “...The intended symbol, a Hebraic pillar of fire atop the cloud God employed to stifle the Egyptian army as Israel made her miraculous escape, was similar to the modern Saturn V imagery.” Some don't want the temple re-done: Quote The current Provo Temple design is “part of a larger built landscape that developed in the mid-20th century,” David Amott, executive director of Preservation Utah, wrote Wednesday. “Many of Brigham Young University’s modernist buildings, the Missionary Training Center, and the homes surrounding the temple were built in more or less the same era and thus hang together in a unified way.” To place a classically styled building in the middle of this larger landscape “would destroy this unique, living record of how the LDS Church grew (grew up) in the middle of the 20th century and became the global institution it is today,” Amott wrote in an email. “The Provo Temple created a prototype for all temples that came after it (in the LDS Church’s effort to take the temple experience to the four corners of the world), and for that reason alone it deserves to stand.” Generations of “missionaries from all over the globe, BYU students, etc., have used this temple to receive their spiritual rites, perform rituals for others, etc.,” he added. “This is not just a local temple and a local issue.” Social media was awash in comments about the proposed revisions. “I am sad to see it go! The old Provo temple is like your family dog. We are allowed to complain about it but that doesn’t mean we want to replace it!” tweeted Lauren Simpson. “It’s an ugly dog, but it’s OUR ugly dog.” “It was distinctive, cleanly artistic w/carefully chosen symbolism,” Weston C. tweeted, “and took a cherished (if sometimes poked fun at) place in personal/local history.” And here: Quote After seeing plans for remaking the Provo Temple, hundreds of Latter-day Saints have signed a pair of online petitions urging church leaders to stick to the structure’s current look. “We respectfully urge the Temple Department to reconsider and instead preserve the exterior of the Provo Utah Temple and do seismic upgrades on the current building,” one Change.org petition states. The petition has 492 signatories. That's . . . not a lot. See also here: ‘Mormon Land’: In wake of Provo Temple redesign, prominent architect examines the best and worst of the most sacred LDS buildings It's a 33-minute podcast, and I don't like listending to podcasts, so I'm hoping someone else will listen and list what this architect thinks are the good, the bad and the ugly of Latter-day Saint temples. For me, I have real affection for the Provo Temple, particularly its original "Cloud by Day, Pillar of Fire by Night"-inspired design: Thoughts? Thanks, -Smac 1 Link to comment
Calm Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 (edited) I don’t think it is ugly, but don’t think it good looking either. Personal taste, of course. Maybe if it had a second white round layer…but can see even more jokes about a wedding cake. The symbolism you mention is beautiful, I just don’t think it managed to convey that well. I much prefer the new look, but now will have to look at the caption to see which one it is rather than instant recognition. Edited December 1, 2021 by Calm 3 Link to comment
rongo Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 I don't think Provo and Ogden are ugly (my parents were married in Ogden). My opinion is that they should be left as they are (Ogden has already been redone, so there is 0% chance that Provo won't). They were designed and heavily used over decades like that. This is what the Provo/Ogden temples were to generations of people, and it looks (to me) like succumbing to shifting sands of changing aesthetic tastes to make them "better looking." But, I also don't think that online petitions should play any role in it, one way or another. I'm more saddened by the quiet elimination of the Moroni statues (all but done away with in new builds, and eliminated in many temples during these renovations). A number of factors indicate that we are in the midst of a branding/PR initiative era that seeks to scrub the "weirdness" from Mormonism. I personally think these initiatives are not revelatory, but are driven by the PR professionals in the COB. "Beautification" of "ugly" temples is just a brick in the whole. 2 Link to comment
bluebell Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 I love the symbolism of the design. I think the design itself is really ugly. It's very typical of 1970s architecture, which is most of its problem since that era has not aged well no matter what the subject matter. The MTC is likewise not very architecturally impressive. It looks more utilitarian than modern, like low-income housing but in a nicer area than we are used to seeing it. 4 Link to comment
webbles Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 I like the current look. It is unique and gives it character. I also have a lot of memories from that temple. Link to comment
bluebell Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 29 minutes ago, smac97 said: So on 11/24 the Church announced that the Provo Temple will be renovated and re-designed to look like this: Thoughts? Thanks, -Smac I think a better way to judge the aesthetics of the buildings would be to poll nonmembers (and not tell them they were temples, to sidestep the whole "mormons are going to hell" issue). They wouldn't have any sentimental feelings towards the original so they could speak from a visual perspective without that bias. Too bad that would be really hard to do. I think the new design would win by a landslide. 2 Link to comment
maj Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 To use a phrase from my country: It is hanging But, that is my opinion and there are others who think it's lovely Link to comment
Duncan Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 I LOVE the Provo temple. I am not a huge fan of the new design but I can't do diddly about it. I wish though they could have kept the old design but make it modern at the same time. At my old university the man building was built in 1888 and when I was there it was crumbling and the roof was falling down. So, after I left they kept the same design but used new and better bricks so the building now is the same design and everything but modernized. Link to comment
Peacefully Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 I like it! The architecture evokes feelings of a by-gone era, when space travel was in its infancy and everyone was looking to the stars. Having said that, I don’t have to pass by it every day or do temple work there, if I did, maybe I would tire of its uniqueness. 1 Link to comment
strappinglad Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 (edited) Change for the sake of change to a building only about 50 years old. We don't value the past ! Are we going to see spires on the Mesa and Cardston temples ? Oy vey ! Edited December 1, 2021 by strappinglad 1 Link to comment
Robert F. Smith Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 2 hours ago, smac97 said: So on 11/24 the Church announced that the Provo Temple will be renovated and re-designed to look like this:.............................................. ............. For me, I have real affection for the Provo Temple, particularly its original "Cloud by Day, Pillar of Fire by Night"-inspired design: ..................... Temples ancient and modern have always followed current architectural fads or fashion. I can recall someone writing about the original Ogden & Provo temples as looking like Marriott Hot Shoppes. I have never had a problem with those designs, nor with the proposed new one. You will note, however, that the newly renovated SLC Temple will not be altered. 2 Link to comment
ttribe Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 Yep, ugly. Looks like a UFO landed in a park. That being said, whether the wholesale renovations are the highest and best use of the money...well...that's a whole different debate. 1 Link to comment
Popular Post bluebell Posted December 2, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted December 2, 2021 2 minutes ago, ttribe said: Yep, ugly. Looks like a UFO landed in a park. That being said, whether the wholesale renovations are the highest and best use of the money...well...that's a whole different debate. When it comes to how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spends its money--no matter the issue--that will always be the debate. 7 Link to comment
Popular Post InCognitus Posted December 2, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted December 2, 2021 (edited) I'll just say this: If we can get it to work the same way, I'm all for it. Edited December 2, 2021 by InCognitus 10 Link to comment
Hamba Tuhan Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 43 minutes ago, Robert F. Smith said: I can recall someone writing about the original Ogden & Provo temples as looking like Marriott Hot Shoppes. Did some Googling. I'm struggling to see the connection ... 2 Link to comment
Calm Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 Maybe this style? https://www.blogs.marriott.com/marriott-on-the-move/2019/08/raising-a-mug-on-national-root-beer-float-day.html 1 Link to comment
mrmarklin Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 Not ugly but harks back to buildings built 100 years ago. I like the original better. Link to comment
Amulek Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 My understanding is that the two overarching principles involved in the design / construction of the Provo and Ogden temples were (1) austerity and (2) functionality. I wouldn't use the term 'ugly,' but if I were ranking the temples solely on their visual appeal then yeah, I would put the Provo temple at (or very near) the bottom. And, while I personally didn't love the look, at least it was distinctive and you clearly knew it wasn't an ordinary church building - unlike the stake center inspired aesthetic employed in the Dallas, Chicago, Boise, etc. line of temples. 2 Link to comment
BlueDreams Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 (edited) 16 hours ago, smac97 said: So on 11/24 the Church announced that the Provo Temple will be renovated and re-designed to look like this: See here: Some don't want the temple re-done: And here: The petition has 492 signatories. That's . . . not a lot. See also here: ‘Mormon Land’: In wake of Provo Temple redesign, prominent architect examines the best and worst of the most sacred LDS buildings It's a 33-minute podcast, and I don't like listending to podcasts, so I'm hoping someone else will listen and list what this architect thinks are the good, the bad and the ugly of Latter-day Saint temples. For me, I have real affection for the Provo Temple, particularly its original "Cloud by Day, Pillar of Fire by Night"-inspired design: Thoughts? Thanks, -Smac I love the provo temple…but honestly not for it’s looks. I worked there as an ordinance worker for I think 5 years. The temple was right next to BYU but it was rare that we’d have sealings there. People chose other temples for, well, probably the aesthetics. The next nearest temples were timp and later payson at the time. I wonder if they’ve had nearly any sealings with the city center temple the last few years. When it opened it was literally non-stop sealings. I worked a morning Tuesday shift and I STILL saw brides and grooms being ushered in near the end of my shift. The first thing I did when I realized I was getting married was to call the city center temple because I knew 6 months to even a year out, dates and times were likely already being taken. I wasn’t wrong. Another provo temple anectdote about its special style. At one point they’d renovated the bathrooms before the celestial room and they looked better than the Celestial room. I’d lovingly call them the celestial bathrooms. The all white main floor also could cause me migraines if I stayed there too long. In some ways it was a testament to the spirit being the framework for spiritual experiences there, not just the generally pretty atmosphere of temples. It came from a style of architecture that just didn’t age well. I don’t think the petition is going to go far…people have been signing their own quiet petition for years. Side note: I think the new plans architectural style is trying to incorporate the message of the pillar/cloud symbology but in a more recent style of temples. The body though block-shaped has a light airiness to it through the high arched windows. Meanwhile the end of the tower is also a subtle gold. With luv, bd Edited December 2, 2021 by BlueDreams 2 Link to comment
JAHS Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 When the Ogden and Provo temples were built I thought the design was really strange. I have good memories of the old Ogden Temple though because that's where I was married. My RM wife was already endowed so we went on dates to that temple before we were married. More important than what it looks like on the outside is what happens on the inside. A little Ogden Temple trivia. It was the first temple dedicated in Utah after Utah became a state. Link to comment
bluebell Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 5 hours ago, Amulek said: And, while I personally didn't love the look, at least it was distinctive and you clearly knew it wasn't an ordinary church building - unlike the stake center inspired aesthetic employed in the Dallas, Chicago, Boise, etc. line of temples. Oh yes, those styles are pretty bad. They really do look like Stake Centers. 1 Link to comment
Calm Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 3 hours ago, JAHS said: A little Ogden Temple trivia. It was the first temple dedicated in Utah after Utah became a state. 80 year gap between temples in Utah…now it rarely makes it to 80 weeks. 1 Link to comment
JAHS Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 37 minutes ago, Calm said: 80 year gap between temples in Utah…now it rarely makes it to 80 weeks. Or 80 miles apart from each other. 1 Link to comment
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