This minimalist chapel outside of Monterrey in northern Mexico by WRKSHP was designed with a limited palette of materials that allow natural light to define the spacious interiors.
Fuego Nuevo chapel was completed earlier this year, after the firm was commissioned directly by the congregation of El Uro, on the outskirts of Monterrey. The area is set at a high altitude, surrounded by the Sierra Madre mountain range.
The chapel is reached via an elevated plaza
WRKSHP was initially engaged for the project in 2014, and spent the subsequent years working closely with the community to design the 1,265-square-metre chapel.
"Many of the church's resources have come from donations from parishioners and some foundations, so we also aimed to work with low-maintenance materials that could age with dignity," explained the Monterrey-based architects. "When the project was presented to the community, it was very well received." It is located on the outskirts of Monterrey
The project is laid out on two levels. A partially sunken lower floor is accessible directly from the street, and contains a multi-purpose room and the ossuaries at the back of the space, which are meant to be the most private areas of the building.
Above the multi-purpose room, the architects created an elevated plaza that worshippers reach via a long ramp along the facade. "Here, an evergreen oak was planted that was donated by the community," they explained.
The facade is made from board-f...