Álvaro Siza Vieira
Climbing up the steep hillside of the small North-Portuguese town, Marco Canaveses located between Porto and Amarante, one leaves behind the river bending in the valley, goes along a gently sloping ridge and reaches the religious center designed by the most reputed Portuguese architect, Álvaro Siza. In the wider area of the building complex there is a small baroque chapel, and next to it can be found the pilgrimage house carrying the form-marks of modern architecture. The new church of the settlement is placed onto a plateau lifted higher than the road; the church turns toward the main access with its sanctuary. Above that a small urban square greets the visitor; the place became complete with the recently finished vicarage and community house. The building masses are not at right angle to each other: they nearly close the access from the direction of arrival, in this way protecting the space they surround. The amazingly high vertical gate of the church is located between two towers, though the pylons do not rise above the building volume. Inside the church, the liturgical peace of ancient Christian spaces welcomes us. On the south, the view of the town is opened through a long horizontal split; while on the north side the wall mass is bent and the light filters through the deep windows. The interior’s sight is cool, but the room is full of emotions. One feels at home here, the space speaks even in the deep silence.
Continue reading ‘Marco de Canaveses, St. Mary church (1990-2006)’
