Selah Chapel

Selah Chapel - A sanctuary of light, reflection, and divine presence

Selah: שֶׁלָה - Hebrew, meaning a direction for pause, a reflection, or an indication to raised voices in praise. Found predominately in Psalms.

Located in the Great Smoky Mountains just south of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Selah Chapel is conceived as a place of reverence and spiritual stillness. The approach begins as visitors depart Newfound Gap Road, descending a forested path that gently reveals the chapel through layers of natural enclosure. Positioned near a trailhead and a quiet river, the chapel invites both hikers and nature-goers to encounter architecture as a moment of pause—an invitation to reflect.

The chapel’s form draws from the vernacular gabled silhouette of historic American churches, reinterpreted in white polished concrete to convey purity, strength, and permanence. Above the entry, an abstracted composition of three crosses is embedded into the façade—an architectural gesture that references Christ’s crucifixion and the unity of the Trinity. This symbolic threshold sets the tone for the experience within.

Inside, the white concrete anchors the entry and rear walls, while the remainder of the interior is enveloped in warm caramel-toned oak. This material palette transforms the cool daylight from above into a gentle, ambient glow—creating a sense of comfort and spiritual warmth. Light enters through carefully placed apertures and is internally modulated by suspended oak panels that act as reflectors, diffusing illumination with a warm tonal quality. These elements not only shape the lighting experience but also embody a deeper metaphor: the wood appears to pull away from the concrete structure, symbolizing humanity’s tendency to drift from the purity and resilience of God. Yet, slender steel rods suspend the panels in place, representing divine sovereignty—God’s enduring presence and guidance, even in our wandering.

The lighting strategy emphasizes indirect illumination, maintaining a consistent ambient quality throughout the day and across seasons. Slits along the floor edges allow subtle light entry without directional glare, reinforcing the contemplative atmosphere. The north wall remains intentionally minimal, punctuated only by a singular carved cross—an unwavering focal point of worship.
A rhythmic spatial pattern rooted in the number seven—referencing the seventh day of creation when God rested—guides the architectural composition.

The pews are derived from an abstraction of the chapel’s form, reinforcing the unity between structure and spiritual narrative.

Selah Chapel is designed as a sanctuary for introspection, worship, and stillness. Through its material clarity, symbolic gestures, and orchestration of light, the chapel invites visitors to pause and consider the glory of God. As expressed in James 1:17–18:
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”