Nossa Senhora das Necessidades Church, by Célia Faria and Inês Cortesão, 2011 - in Chãs, Leiria, Portugal
The intervention is based on a building previously constructed, where the interior was unfinished. We started with the idea of “building the silence”: in a world full of noise, the church represents a break, a moment of rest, peace and meditation. The strong spiritual character is present but doesn’t intimidate, it gives a sense of protection. The selection of materials, the way of moulding both natural and artificial light and the absence of images had the purpose of achieving harmony, a primarily condition in order to assure silence.
Our Lady of Conception Chapel (Brennand Chapel), by Paulo Mendes da Rocha, 2006 - in Recife, Brazil
The project is an incredible revitalization of an old abandoned chapel made of brick-and-stone, with a floating roof that don´t touch the original walls, supported by two pillars.
In Progress: Kamppi Chapel of Silence, by K2S Architects, 2012 - in Helsinki, Finland
Simultaneously, the chapel’s gently shaped interior space embraces visitors and shields them from the bustling city life outside.
The Chapel of Reconciliation, by Rudolf Reitermann and Peter Sassenroth, 1999 - in Berlin, Germany
This oval shaped building is located on the plot of land where the Protestant Reconciliation Church, dating from 1894, used to stand before it was blown up in 1985. It was located on the so-called ‘death strip’ of the Berlin Wall.
USAFA Cadet Chapel, by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, 1956-1962 - in El Paso County, Colorado, USA
Chapel of the Holy Cross, by Richard Hein, 1956 - in Arizona, USA
Riola Parish Church,by Alvar Aalto, 1978 - in Riola, Italy
Church of Water, by Tadao Ando, 1988 - in Tomamu,island of Hokkaido, Japan.
São Marco de Canaveses Church, by Álvaro Siza, 1996 - in São Marco de Canaveses, Portugal
The Church for Marco of Canaveses, is only a part of a religious complex that foresees an auditorium, the catechesis school and the house for the parish priest. The Santa Maria Church in Marco de Canavezes is part of an overall complex that, together with a planned Parish Center, will form a small urban square.It was the parish priest Father Nuno Higino’s personal decision to call on Siza, and to invest himself fully in this very ambitious project.
The proposed plan by Alvaro Siza, with the church playing a central role, will ensure that the other buildings will be in concordance with the pre-existing scale of the neighbourhood. The façade (17.5 x 17.5 square meter ) is in three sections with two projecting towers. The 10 meter high temporary grey steel doors will eventually be replaced by bronze doors.
“The visit to the place already chosen had disturbed myself deeply: it was a very difficult place, with great quota differences, lofty to a highway with a lot of traffic. As if it was not enough, that area was marked by buildings of terrible quality.”
Ronchamp Chapel, Le Corbusier - in Haute-Saone, France
In the commune of Ronchamp, slightly south of east of Paris, sits one of Le Corbusier’s most unusual projects of his career, Notre Dame du Ronchamp, or more commonly referred to as Ronchamp. In 1950, Le Corbusier was commissioned to design a new Catholic church to replace the previous church that had been destroyed during World War II.
