The BIBLE FOR LITURGICAL DESIGN: “Koinè Ricerca 1989 -2009. Il design per la liturgia: materiali e progetti” (Koinè Research 1989 – 2009. The design for liturgy: resources and projects) presented on Saturday 12th March in Vicenza, on the occasion of Koinè 2011.
 

Thanks to Koinè Research, the section focusing on innovation and debates, which has been organized together with the trade show since the very first edition, Koinè has become an observatory on the trends of the expressions and the styles of liturgical furniture, on the linguistic orientations in the design of new churches and on the renewal of sacred spaces. Furthermore, Koinè Research organizes shows and congresses, promoted by the National office for Ecclesiastical cultural heritage and by the National service for Worship buildings of CEI (Italian Bishops‟ Conference), serving the purpose of updating the ideas of the Church in the design of liturgical furnishings and architecture, based on the guidelines of the Vatican II.

“Koinè 1989 – 2009. The design for liturgy: resources and projects” represents a mile stone for the design and the production of objects, furniture and garments for liturgy by famous architects and designers of objects for liturgy according to the guidelines provided by the II Vatican Council both for the scientific rigour and for the broad range of themes tackled.

The publication, which is a real „bible‟ of design for liturgy, includes projects and prototypes of liturgical furniture (Episcopal benches, chairs and desks) and of liturgical objets (chalices, monstrances, incense burners, candlesticks) designed by important architects and designers, such as Gabetti and Isola, Luigi Caccia Dominioni, Angelo Mangiarotti, Giancarlo Piretti, Tobia Scarpa, Michele De Lucchi. A wide section is then dedicated to liturgical garments (chasubles and stoles), which have been made unique by textile artists and stylists through a research of aesthetic innovation in the fabric processing and decoration and which are featured by themes designed also by well-known people in the fashion industry, including Laura Biagiotti, Fendi and Nanni Strada.

The book is featured by a rich iconographic apparatus that fully documents the editions of the photographical shows of Koinè Research. It is also featured by some notes drafted by the Scientific committee, made up of famous experts, liturgists and representatives of the ecclesiastic institutions, relating to the design of furniture and the creation of textile parts. The contributions were edited by Giancarlo Santi, Guido Genero, Davanzo Poli, Roberto Gabetti, Glauco Gresleri, Maurizio Vitta

Furthermore, this publication also includes some in-depth examinations and remarks on architecture for worship places, including the design of new churches and the liturgical adaptation of ancient churches, with a special focus on the illumination, the sound systems and the heating problems of worship places. The authors of the texts are Giancarlo Santi, Giorgio Della Longa, Francesco Martellotta, Dario Camuffo, Micaela Soranzo and Sister Cristina Cruciani sddm.