BEAUTELL ALEÂJANÂDRO – STELÂLA MARIS CHAPEL
DesignÂer | AleÂjanÂdro Beautell | |
LocaÂtion | Avda. prinÂciÂpal El Pris, 38358, TacoroÂnte, TenerÂife, Spain | |
Design Team |
MarÂius Micu — Junior architect |
|
Year | 2016 | |
PhoÂto credits |
Flavio DorÂta — PhoÂto 3 ExterÂnal, PhoÂto 4 ExterÂnal, PhoÂto 3 InterÂnal, PhoÂto 4 Internal |
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PhoÂto external
Project descripÂtion
For years, the neighÂbors of the fishÂerÂmen vilÂlage of El Pris had tried to proÂmote the conÂstrucÂtion of a propÂer temÂple, under the vocaÂtion of VirÂgen del CarÂmen (Our Lady of Mount Carmel) who is patroness of the sailors. Despite desÂigÂnatÂing for it sevÂerÂal difÂferÂent locaÂtions, this conÂstrucÂtion, for varÂiÂous reaÂsons, was not possible.
The plot locatÂed on a rocky headÂland next to the old pier, was cerÂtainÂly comÂpliÂcatÂed due to its small size and irregÂuÂlar shape. This difÂfiÂculÂty was increased by the sigÂnifÂiÂcant slope of the base (it was not posÂsiÂble to excaÂvate the rock due to the danÂger which such works could cause for adjaÂcent poor, self-build housÂes) as well as the restricÂtions of the law and limÂitÂed ecoÂnomÂiÂcal resources.
In an area withÂout archiÂtecÂturÂal refÂerÂences, where domÂiÂnate self-build conÂstrucÂtions, the planned buildÂing aims to comÂplete the façade of the housÂes erectÂed on the headÂland. The chalÂlenge was to inteÂgrate the new volÂume withÂout imposÂing it, so that the group of housÂes conÂstiÂtutÂing the backÂground of the chapel did not lose its character.
The chapel is designed as a sinÂgle cylinÂdriÂcal volÂume, diagÂoÂnalÂly cut in its upper part. In this way, the inteÂriÂor space risÂes in height, as we approach the altar. AdjaÂcent to the chapel was designed a small prayer space which resemÂble a cave for the fishÂerÂmen of the area, as well as a sacÂristy. The arrangeÂment of the volÂumes creÂates open space between both conÂstrucÂtions which forms an access patio, proÂtectÂed from the strong winds.
The altar is oriÂentÂed to the north. The altar table is locatÂed on the same levÂel as the space of the nave. A sinÂgle monoÂlithÂic bank, which comes from the wall, proÂvides the seats for prayers around the altar table. In the conÂtiÂnuÂity of the wall is incorÂpoÂratÂed the Via CruÂcis which is comÂposed of 14 stars. The cirÂcumÂferÂence that forms the floor plan of the temÂple, repÂreÂsents the femÂiÂninÂiÂty of the VirÂgin Mary, the materÂnal figÂure who embraces the faithÂful. The image of VirÂgin del CarÂmen preÂsides the space, being locatÂed in the north like metaphor of its funcÂtion of guide to the sailors durÂing the night. The StelÂla Maris or Star of the Sea.
IllusÂtraÂtive project report
DownÂload report
TechÂniÂcal drawings