neat

Rather have a good concept with an ugly building, than a horrible curvy, stupid digitized building with no concept at all, and terrible space that only gets built because it’s “iconic.” I’m excited to see test models, and the different ways they studied the light. It’s not THAT ugly either…

I love this. I’m happy to see it built although I agree that the execution is lacking. The interior shots of the space do not have the same impressiveness that the interior study model pictures do, yet I sincerely doubt that the architects focused on it merely as an object as the design is clearly created with the space as the derivative of the form. This understanding in of itself is beautiful and should be satisfying to all appreciators of conceptually strong architecture. Side note: There is no ugly architecture. If one wants to call something ugly in architecture, one can usually refer to it as architecture of ornament…

Superb.Really nice.Interesting and inspiring

i think it’s superb too. an interesting concept, gorgeous materiality, interesting manipulation of light… i would feel very “en-heightened” in there.

The fenestration is great, and the type of light effects it could create should define the space: both the oblong pyramids and irregular rectangles in rows along the length of the main chapel. Unfortunately, the finish materials are absolutely dreadful. Goldleaf, white drywall, and shiny black marble floor? And what’s up with the graphic nonsense in the small chapel? It’s really too bad, because the space could be amazing, as defined by the natural light, a sort of contemporary take on Ronchamps. Instead, it’s late ’80′s Italian-American kitsch.

nice , interesting exteriors… i hope some more consontration on interiors would bring better interior.

it looks too busy as a religious bldg..

Looks to me like someone’s visited Ronchamp, nicked an idea (mould the negative space of the window apertures from the old curved stone wall) and managed to successfully translate a thing of beauty into a crass one-liner. Congrats, boys.

Mixed feelings here…i don’t care too much about the exterior…i find it strange but not bad at all…the altar from inside is just magnificent…the best i’ve seen in a long time…the rest of interior is space is poorly detailed even kitsh shopping mall style both as the chapel show clearly.It seems they spend too much time designing the altar and forgott about all the rest.Another thing is that on the external view it doesn’t resemble a church at all…there’s not cultural link to catholic tradition whatsoever and with so many wonderfull churchs throughout the centuries it seems to me like a major set back…then again i must say the altar is really impressive…the quality of the light is great.Compare this with the new Fatima basilic where Tombasi doesn’t know what to do with the light

WHAT?!?!?!!……how can someone not like this?

@MODERATOR: thanks so much for posting this, there’s no much information on the web about this project, but a few pictures.

The interior is so stunning that it doesn’t even looks real, those interior photographs of the altar looks almost like 3d renderings, those with that “foggy dreamy effect” and almost transparent.

If it looks grotesque to some I guess it’s because it’s a whole new formal language for a church, which is good, in this case atleast.

It kinda reminds me Mansilla & Tuñon’s Leon Auditorium.

shame it has a vertical slatted fence addressing the street. that facade should be right up on the side walk.

this is really interesting, but interesting doesn’t translate to good. If any of my design students were to use this as a precedent, i would question them very hard on many aspects of their decision and the building…

Some clear inspiration from Ronchamp….by le corbusier….

Wish the architect could have been more tricky in implementing the concept…..if we cut of the front facade its just an average building….the interiors not much fun.

Hey guys, you cannot be serious…

This is amazing, awesome, ethereal… and, that’s what a church should be. It also should give amongst hope and security, a sense of discomfort, and it does!

The originality is exceptional, inside, outside, where ever you look. Not for a long time have I seen an artistic approach in such an architectonic way. The wall behind the altar is a Ben Nicholson or a Graham Sutherland in three-dimension. The detail, delicacy but energy of the sculptures against the searing light that comes from all directions.

It comes through spaces that because the edges are so crisp have an abstract quality emphasised by those planes picked out in gold…

etc., etc., etc., etc., etc., I really could go on and on, and on, and on, and on, and on…

The chapel cross so unusual and seen with the Madonna and angel of the main body of the church. The artistry of the altar, font, etc..

Enough you should really enjoy this, it’s one of the best.

I loved the sketches of the severed fingers

trying too hard?

It seems to me like the designers did visit the 2004 Venise Biennale and saw the work of Saucier+Perrotte. Take a look at http://www.saucierperrotte.com (click on the red biennale logo) and you will see what I mean …

First, both the exterior and interior are very interesting and I applaud the level of investigation and the execution in the realized building. Most times, the concept does not come out clearly in the finished building as reality attempts to crush the concept. Although I am disappointed that Corbusier’s Ronchamp was not mentioned at all as a reference point which it most certainly is. We could have heard about where they connected and attempted to divert intellectually from the Ronchamp original; that would have been very interesting.

For those of you that say the interior is boring; I believe that the visual effects of the lighting, shapes of the oculi, and the tinting on the certain sections of the oculi would affect the eye and intesify the experience in person. Some of these experiential effects don’t translate in the form of eye candy (photography). In fact, I think the interior is very interesting.

this kind of pyramidal shape……….. have some copyrights???

it touches me

Could you message me with any hints & tips about how you made your site look this awesome , I’d appreciate it.

Here the form is built through division and addition: altar-rest. As a form study the altar would be pretty successful, the light it brings inside also. A problem resulting from this mentality of division are, in my opinion, the windows on the sides – would more shadow not make the interior richer? I would be curious how it stands in its context. The back of the building is not worth talking about.