A steeply pitched roof tops this small concrete and wood chapel that Mexican architecture firm S-AR has built in Monterrey.
S-AR built the 7.8-square-metre chapel to accompany an existing church called San Rafael Arcangel, which is located on the outskirts of Cerro del Topo Chic in the north of the Mexican city.

Called La Providencia, which translates as The Providence, it was designed for the church's father Alberto Lopez Montiel, who wanted to create something for the local community on the site. The narrow structure offers a more private space to worship, and is separated from the larger structure by a row of trees.
"This tiny oratory seeks to create space to pause and reflect, creating a relationship with the trees that surrounded the property," said S-AR, which is based in the nearby city of San Pedro Garza García.
S-AR chose a simple construction for the chapel, using reinforced concrete slabs to form three of its walls, the floor and the gabled roof.
Pine boards form the front wall, which includes a set of double doors featuring slender metal handles.

Inside the volume, the firm has slotted an arched wooden volume. It lines two walls and curves in an upside-down U-shape underneath the ceiling. The piece, which is also made from pine wood, ends with a bench.

S-AR intend the woodwork to add a warmth that contrasts with the prevalent use of concrete.
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