francesco lipari proposes to top locri church in southern italy with undulating roof

a team comprising francesco lipari of OFL architecture and arup has finished runner-up in a competition to design the new parish church of locri — a town in calabria, southern italy. the project is defined by its dramatic roof canopy that features seven peaks — the tallest of which is crowned with a cross. positioned in north-west corner of the plot, the place of worship is surrounded by a churchyard that allows the building to be seen with great visibility.

all images © francesco lipari

francesco lipari, who founded OFL architecture in 2009, designed the church as a place of ‘moral integration and of hospitality’ where parishioners and the broader community are invited to come together. positioned in the north-west corner of the plot, adjacent to the passing street, the building enters into a dialogue with its context. the form of the roof canopy also ensures a degree of thermal comfort, with calabria’s temperate climate considered throughout.

in order to preserve the purity of the design, all structural elements are contained within the cladding and continuous façades. a system of steel arches and pillars supports the roof canopy, while a perimeter ring acts as bracing that stabilizes the entire building. diffused natural light, complemented with dimmable LEDs, enters through the canopy ensuring a consistent level of illumination. meanwhile, lining made of fir wood and sound-absorbing surfaces ensure good acoustic performance.

project info:

name: new church san giovanni bosco padre e maestro dei giovani
author: francesco lipari (OFL architecture)
artist: davide holz
liturgist: padre luciano calabrese
consultants: arup italia srl (structures, sustainability, acoustic, plant engineering), giorgio butturini (lighting)
video: gabro nicolosi
animation: alberto iacona
render: francesco lipari
location: locri, reggio calabria, italy
client: locri parish church
area: 650 sqm / 7,000 sqf
year: 2019
result: second place