I wouldn’t say I’m a huge fan of Phillip Johnson. There’s that whole Nazi problem, and the fact that a lot of his work just isn’t that good. The General American Life Insurance Building (now Spire) in downtown St. Louis is pretty cool, though. But we discovered the Roofless Church at New Harmony, and it’s easily one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited. Commissioned by Jane Owens and dedicated in 1960, it is one of the most architecturally significant buildings in the United States.

Not all of the Roofless Church is roofless, of course, as evidenced by the hexagonal domed structure.

Dodging the bird droppings, there is a stunning sculpture by famed French sculptor Jacques Lipchitz, which depicts Descent of the Holy Spirit.

There are six spaces within the enclosure. Below is Solomon’s Women’s Porch, which looks out over a floodplain identified by the visitors’ guide as the Wabash River floodplain.

I think you can see the influence of this portico throughout Modernist architecture around the United States.

This grove of trees is another place of reflection.

Looking back at the gates, we see gilded compositions also commissioned from Lipchitz.

I believe this garden below contains, according to the visitors’ guide, William Schickel’s Grandparents’ Baptismal Fountain and Ewa Żygulska’s Polish Memorial.

It’s important to realize that the various sculptures and gardens were added over time by Owens, so it was constantly a space under renovation and additions.

There is another smaller exit on the side wall, where you can leave the serene and contemplative space.