Varying types of religious architecture express different beliefs – the seating arrangement is key to the venue’s function and is an integral part of its fabric.
In historical or traditional style places of worship, seating solutions are more limited, however as increasingly more modern purpose-built venues are constructed, seating plans have changed considerably.
The use of tiered seating in the auditorium design dates back as far as the ancient Greeks and to this day remains universally popular. A typical arrangement consists of tiered seats curved to wrap around a centre stage which may be either raised or flat. Auditorium or theatre style seating was first introduced into places of worship in the US in the late 1800s as a means of introducing a less formal and more intimate space, providing improved congregation participation – it has since spread right across the globe.
Regardless of the intended faith of the venue, auditorium systems allow the implementation of seating to accommodate all the venue’s needs providing a highly functional, intimate and interactive space.
One of the greatest benefits of using
The transmission of any message will heavily depend on the relationship between the audience and the celebrant and participation itself
Contemporary auditorium seating is designed to provide optimum comfort, support and leg room –allowing participants to remain seated comfortably for longer periods of time, engaging with the service rather than focusing on their own discomfort.
Stylish and sophisticated, auditorium seating helps to create an attractive and timeless space which will retain its appearance in the years to come.
Auditorium style seating maximises the available space, accommodating more visitors than conventional pew style seating in rows.
Religious teaching may also take place at the place of worship, for this to be successful an environment which stimulates interaction and concentration
Modern auditorium seating plans ensure compliance with fire safety regulations, providing service leaders with peace of mind that in the event of an emergency, exits will be easily accessible.
Although conventional seating in historical or traditional style religious buildings is arguably the most appropriate solution from both a practical and aesthetic point of view, for modern spaces, it is worth considering the many benefits of installing auditorium.
One of the most frequent complaints with conventional seating in
Not being able to see the service or even other members of the congregation is a common complaint – being unable to see further than the head of the individual immediately in front can be
Another issue is capacity – conventional seating arrangements such as pews cannot maximise visitor capacity within the venue.
Wheelchair access is often poor, with narrow aisles and inadequate seating which may be uncomfortable for those with any type of physical disability.
Ferco Seating
