Saint-Joseph Church in Le Havre: A Tower of Concrete and Light
Rising into the Norman sky like a concrete lighthouse, Saint-Joseph Church in Le Havre impresses with its verticality and architectural boldness. Designed by Auguste Perret after World War II, this modern monument serves both as a memorial and a place of worship. Its radical, poetic architecture captivates through its structure and its profound interaction with light.
A masterpiece of structural concrete
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Saint-Joseph Church stands out for its unique use of concrete. Its immense octagonal lantern tower soars to 107 meters high, acting as a landmark visible from the port. Inside, the clean lines of the concrete contrast with the colorful nuances of the stained glass, creating an atmosphere that is both minimalist and immersive.
Light and color through 12,768 stained-glass windows
Light here is an essential compositional element. More than 12,000 multicolored stained-glass panels—red, yellow, blue, green, violet—soften daylight as it enters. Arranged in geometric patterns, they turn the surfaces into vibrant, ever-changing canvases, shifting with the time of day. The result is an architecture in perpetual motion, shaped by time and light.
A photographic take on verticality
Photographing Saint-Joseph Church means composing with rigorous lines, repeated modules, and monumental volumes. I chose to focus on upward angles, perspective play, and the interplay of light and shadow. Each image aims to convey that sense of vertical momentum, density, and nearly abstract composition.
An atmosphere both industrial and cinematic
Inside the lantern tower, one detail caught my eye: a spiral staircase hugging the inner wall. Brutal, functional, without ornament. It reminded me of a nuclear reactor core—or a sci-fi film set. The atmosphere recalls the interior of the Death Star in Star Wars, Episode IV: monumental, geometric, cold, yet strangely captivating. This unexpected comparison highlights how this architecture transcends the usual codes of sacred space.
A monumental structure that’s difficult to photograph
The church’s interior poses technical and visual challenges. Dimly lit and absorbing light through its concrete walls, the space demands constrained framing. The central axis of the tower is blocked by a canopy suspended over the altar, preventing any direct upward view from the nave. These limitations push the photographer to seek alternative angles, diagonals, and fragments.
From this constraint emerges a new compositional approach: capturing the structure, playing with the volumes, and letting the space emerge through detail and architectural rhythm.
A photographic exploration of space, material, and light.
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All the photos displayed on this website are copyright protected © Sebastien Desnoulez. No use allowed without written authorization.
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