Notre Damme du Haut, is an reference in the recent Architectural History, and we read it as an iconic building that spots the landscape, making use of sculptural forms, and rough materials and finishes, with well measured limitation to light entrance.
It is also inspiring the relationship with the exterior space. Mass celebrations took place outside the building, which is in fact, the main reason for the organic shape of its walls – acoustics, sound propagation. The triangular ground given to Santa Ana’s Chapel, suggested the creation of a L shaped building, allowing to organize the exterior space, and to dispose properly the inside building program.
It is developed in one level, varying only its height towards the altar and the head of the chapel.
It creates a Scenario to the outdoor mass celebration, and visually scores landscape, assuming, as befits a place of worship, as an exceptional building, creating a strong visual reference towards its surroundings.
The main entrance is oriented towards West. Entering, an “ante-chapel” where the image of Santa Ana is located, creating a space for worship and devotion on the first moment.
After, we reach the nave, with a capacity of about 30 people, with the altar in the background.
The aesthetic principles leading the design look for the magnification of the religious experience by working the largest source of religious and architectural inspiration, the light.
So, as São Pedro das Águias, the space is all closed, massive ascending walls punctuated with thin fenestrations
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