Locus Iste examines the theory, history, and practice of architecture in service of liturgy and worship through research and blogging, design consultancy, and photography.

Locus iste a Deo factus est,
inaestimabile sacramentum,
irreprehensibilis est.

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Featured Articles

Featured

What is God? Length, Breadth, Height, and Depth

Jun 30, 2015 Feature Articles Cistercians, Theological Aesthetics Jason John Paul Haskins Comment

On the implications of the theologies of two prominent 12th-century abbots in the Benedictine tradition—Abbot Suger and St Bernard of Clairvaux—as they touch on themes relevant to architecture, especially simplicity, proportion, light, and the divine darkness.

Jun 30, 2015 Feature Articles Cistercians, Theological Aesthetics Jason John Paul Haskins Comment

Mar 31, 2015 Building Profiles Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue Jason John Paul Haskins 1 Comment

St Bartholomew: Grace truly to believe and to preach

Mar 31, 2015 Building Profiles Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue Jason John Paul Haskins 1 Comment

A profile of one of my personal favorite church buildings and a "definition" of church architecture based on reflections on the Transfiguration.

Mar 31, 2015 Building Profiles Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue Jason John Paul Haskins 1 Comment

Dec 26, 2014 Feature Articles Cistercians, Gothic Revival Jason John Paul Haskins Comment

Chartres Controversy

Dec 26, 2014 Feature Articles Cistercians, Gothic Revival Jason John Paul Haskins Comment

Jul 28, 2014 Building Profiles Midcentury Modern, Marginalized Modernism Jason John Paul Haskins Comment

Milton Ryan's Mid-century Churches

Jul 28, 2014 Building Profiles Midcentury Modern, Marginalized Modernism Jason John Paul Haskins Comment

Milton A. Ryan was most well known for his mid-century modern residential architecture, especially in the Terrell Hills neighborhood of San Antonio. But he also designed two award-winning churches: the Victoria church in 1952 and University Presbyterian Church in San Antonio in 1954.

Jul 28, 2014 Building Profiles Midcentury Modern, Marginalized Modernism Jason John Paul Haskins Comment

Nov 18, 2012 Building Profiles Dom Hans van der Laan, Monastery Jason John Paul Haskins 2 Comments

Ecstasies of Logic: Reflections on van der Laan's Abbey at Vaals

Nov 18, 2012 Building Profiles Dom Hans van der Laan, Monastery Jason John Paul Haskins 2 Comments

The second reason I traveled to the Liturgy and Sacred Space conference at de Tiltenberg in the Netherlands was the opportunity to visit churches designed by Dom Hans van der Laan, his family, and his students. The culmination of this pilgrimage was a two night stay at his masterwork, the St Benedictusberg Abbey at Vaals.

In addition to celebrating the Feast of the Dedication of the St John Lateran Basilica and participating in praying the monastic offices, I had time to carefully consider a significant portion of the architecture. I also spent time in lectio, completing Hans Urs von Balthasar's Love Alone is Credible and re-reading parts of van der Laan's The Play of Forms. This post is intended to be more personal reactions to that experience than critical architectural response, though for me the two are probably not too far apart.

Nov 18, 2012 Building Profiles Dom Hans van der Laan, Monastery Jason John Paul Haskins 2 Comments

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All Saints Presbyterian, Austin

All Saints Presbyterian, Austin 7808 Rialto Blvd, 78735, Austin, Travis County, Texas, US Presbyterian Church in America 2003 — Established as mission church 19 August 2016 — Consecration & Dedication Andersson Wise — Architects Rev Tim Frickenschmmidt — Senior Pastor

All Saints Presbyterian, Austin

Offices | All Saints Presbyterian, Austin

All Saints Presbyterian, Austin

Offices | All Saints Presbyterian, Austin

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Recent Posts

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Oct 8, 2015 Feature Articles Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, Inscriptions Jason John Paul Haskins Comment

Goodhue's Tomb: Nihil Tetiget Quod Non Ornavit

Oct 8, 2015 Feature Articles Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, Inscriptions Jason John Paul Haskins Comment

The tomb of Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue—the greatest American architect of his generation—rests in the Episcopal Church of the Intercession in the far northwest of Manhattan. Here we explore the inscriptions and sculptural contents of this "token of the affection of his friends" and "his great architectural creations that beautify the land."

Oct 8, 2015 Feature Articles Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, Inscriptions Jason John Paul Haskins Comment

Oct 3, 2015 Designed by Locus Iste Jason John Paul Haskins Comment

Pange Lingua Adoration Chapel Design

Oct 3, 2015 Designed by Locus Iste Jason John Paul Haskins Comment

A description of the liturgical, theological, and historical principles of an unrealized design for the conversion of an existing conference room into a new Blessed Sacrament Chapel for St Albert the Great, Austin, Texas.

Oct 3, 2015 Designed by Locus Iste Jason John Paul Haskins Comment

Sep 16, 2015 Blog Post Jason John Paul Haskins Comment

Marginalized Modernisms

Sep 16, 2015 Blog Post Jason John Paul Haskins Comment

I am excited to announce the publication of the article "Marginalized Modernisms: Progressive Architecture for Minority, Immigrant, and Rural Churches in Texas" in the Journal of History and Culture which is published by Prairie View A&M's Texas Institute for the Preservation of History and Culture.

Sep 16, 2015 Blog Post Jason John Paul Haskins Comment

Sep 4, 2015 Blog Post Jason John Paul Haskins Comment

UTSOA Lecture on St Martin Lutheran, Austin

Sep 4, 2015 Blog Post Jason John Paul Haskins Comment

Information about a lecture given at the University of Texas as part of ongoing efforts to advocate for the preservation of Saint Martin's Evangelical Lutheran Church. This church is by far the best example of non-residential mid-century architecture and holds a special place among the finest modern American churches. The lecture addressed on the influence of the church and the people associated with it on the history of the architecture and building arts community of Austin in the middle of the twentieth century.

Sep 4, 2015 Blog Post Jason John Paul Haskins Comment

Jun 30, 2015 Feature Articles Cistercians, Theological Aesthetics Jason John Paul Haskins Comment

What is God? Length, Breadth, Height, and Depth

Jun 30, 2015 Feature Articles Cistercians, Theological Aesthetics Jason John Paul Haskins Comment

Jun 27, 2015 Blog Post Jason John Paul Haskins Comment

Miriam's Book About Her Dad

Jun 27, 2015 Blog Post Jason John Paul Haskins Comment

Apr 16, 2015 Blog Post Midcentury Modern Jason John Paul Haskins 1 Comment

MidTexMod Tour of St Martin Evangelical Lutheran Church

Apr 16, 2015 Blog Post Midcentury Modern Jason John Paul Haskins 1 Comment

Mar 31, 2015 Building Profiles Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue Jason John Paul Haskins 1 Comment

St Bartholomew: Grace truly to believe and to preach

Mar 31, 2015 Building Profiles Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue Jason John Paul Haskins 1 Comment

A profile of one of my personal favorite church buildings and a "definition" of church architecture based on reflections on the Transfiguration.

Mar 31, 2015 Building Profiles Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue Jason John Paul Haskins 1 Comment

Mar 24, 2015 Designed by Locus Iste Lent, Liturgy Jason John Paul Haskins Comment

Veiling Images in Lent

Mar 24, 2015 Designed by Locus Iste Lent, Liturgy Jason John Paul Haskins Comment

The historical context and some potential strategies for contemporary implementation of the veiling of images during Lent. As an example, I show how I created the veils used by my own parish.

Mar 24, 2015 Designed by Locus Iste Lent, Liturgy Jason John Paul Haskins Comment