Project: Chapel Ouro Fino (2008-)

Client: Ouro Fino Saúde Animal Ltda.
Site: Cravinhos, SP, Brasil
Size: 50 m²

The site for this small 50 m² eucumenic chapel is alongside the lake that is located in the heart of the industrial Ouro Fino campus. We designed the space as a sanctuary of light, as light is present in almost all religions as a representative of the gods and of life. From the outside, the chapel presents itself in a simple but rather monumental form. In the inside, its floorplan attracks peolpe to the inside, whereas the uninterrupted increasing height creates a sequence of spacial experiences. The chapel is made from concrete slabs in different sizes which irregular rhythm breaks the rigid shape of the ellips. Narrow openings between the slabs allow light to enter the chapel, creating the impression that the chapel is built of light. When it rains, the openings transform into small waterfalls. At night, light escapes through the openings like a lantern. The chapel is located in the middle of a square watermirror, which reflects and diffuses the sunlight that enters the chapel, and at night reforces the lantern-effect.