Mystery and Matter

Most of the scholarship regarding the Dutch monk and architect Dom Hans van der Laan OSB (1904-1991) has been narrowly focused on his architectural theory and projects. The liturgical and theological dimensions have been virtually neglected, though they are vital for a proper understanding of his thought. Through a thorough reading of the original sources, including previously unexplored documents from various archives, this book takes an interdisciplinary approach to Van der Laan s theory. It brings together the different aspects of his work by studying both the liturgical-theological and architectural elements. On this basis the book offers a synthesis of the way in which Van der Laan was able to link earthly matter to the divine Mystery.