at the 2018 venice architecture biennale, the holy see pavilion comprises ten ‘vatican chapels’ each conceived by a different architect. joining temporary structures by pritzker laureates norman foster and eduardo souto de moura, is a design by brazilian architect carla juaçaba. the scheme comprises four highly-polished steel beams that form a cross and a bench. the entire structure rests on seven pieces of concrete, which, according to the design team, give ‘metric to the ensemble’.

carla juacaba vatican chapel
all images by federico cairoli

 

 

the beams have been made from stainless steel, allowing them to vibrantly mirror their bucolic setting. however, the reflective nature of carla juaçaba’s chapel also means that the structure may ‘disappear’ at any moment, with the shadow becoming more prominent than the object itself. meanwhile, the bench, which is the same width as the cross, provides a place to sit and contemplate. see designboom’s coverage of the 2018 venice architecture biennale here.

carla juacaba vatican chapel
the scheme comprises four highly-polished steel beams

carla juacaba vatican chapel
the beams form a cross and a bench

carla juacaba vatican chapel
the entire structure rests on seven pieces of concrete

carla juacaba vatican chapel
the beams have been made from stainless steel, allowing them to reflect their bucolic setting

carla juacaba vatican chapel
an aerial view of the chapel, which is on view in venice until november 25, 2018

 

 

carla juacaba vatican chapel holy see pavilion venice biennale designboom


site location within the context of venice
image courtesy of carla juaçaba

carla juacaba vatican chapel holy see pavilion venice biennale designboom


pavilion location within the context of the other vatican chapels
image courtesy of carla juaçaba

carla juacaba vatican chapel holy see pavilion venice biennale designboom


axonometric drawing
image courtesy of carla juaçaba

carla juacaba vatican chapel holy see pavilion venice biennale designboom


plan
image courtesy of carla juaçaba

carla juacaba vatican chapel holy see pavilion venice biennale designboom


front elevation
image courtesy of carla juaçaba

carla juacaba vatican chapel holy see pavilion venice biennale designboom


side elevation
image courtesy of carla juaçaba

carla juacaba vatican chapel holy see pavilion venice biennale designboom


axonometric drawing
image courtesy of carla juaçaba

carla juacaba vatican chapel holy see pavilion venice biennale designboom


axonometric drawing
image courtesy of carla juaçaba

full article here

SGHS korean pavilion venice biennale

designboom’s coverage of the 2018 venice architecture biennale is in partnership with leading energy company edison. edison is taking part in the 16th international architecture exhibition of la biennale di venezia by initiating a path towards sustainability and the efficient use of resources. the collaboration between edison and la biennale is based on awareness that energy is one of the fundamental elements of architecture and of the places, spaces and cities of contemporary life.