Manifesto Version.05

The Commercial religion and the religion of commerce

GOD – SCRIPTURE – ICON – WORSHIP – COMMERCE

A simmered down version of these gods/icons come in the shape of a simple memento or souvenir, within the reach and grasp of our hands. From rosaries to mini-ceramic versions of the Virgin Mary.

‘’I question…is it possible that deep down inside some pagan weeds still managed to survive in many of us?...I wonder?’’

But nevertheless I would call those commercial religions.

Conversely, there would be no reason that commercialism should be excluded as a religion in itself.

So, commercialism is the world’s new religion!!!

Merging the two - commercial religion and religion of commerce -  would be a unity of the two contrasting parts.  By cross-referencing the logic of the church and the shopping mall, the pilgrimage factor of worship and shopping would be the most essential.  Incorporating that into the Nave would shape the structural back-bone of the form, taking it back to its origin as a market ground.  The shops would then attach themselves onto the perimeter of the iconic cross “Nave” as a host creating a melange of different church profiles acting as temporary commercial installments.  The Nave’s flooring and width would deepen and become less ornate/customized towards the east side, where the altar would be.  The altar would then perform as a “mecca” of people rushing to and from the shops and, simultaneously drawing people to communicate with the recently abandoned church. 

Brands change, companies merge, new shops and products appear.  Re-locate, re-design, re-fit, but the Nave still survives and withstands the shifting character of commerce.