Cristo do Silêncio Chapel
Bernardo Pizarro Miranda

From the proposed premiminary programme we stress the wish to turn an inoperative electric power transformation station into a space for quietness and silence, available to the local community and as a support to the pastoral activities offered by the religious community that integrates it.

A parallelepiped volume of 25-sq. m, and four meters high inside, constitutes the support and opportunity to regenerate a devitalized space. We seeked the envolving shape, unified around the altar, confering once more tangibility to the profound reforms of the II Vatican Council.
It was proposed to reorganize the interior space of the old technical area, filtering the exterior light and covering of white the walls…

A larch wood stool embraces the area, calling the identity of a community assembled around the altar.

Outside, a structure of iron and zinc wire will lead the growth of the final covering with a deciduous climbing plant, confering a new identity to the primitive volume.

The exterior final covering in Japanese creeper, looks for, in the seasons of the year and in the Biblical metaphore of "the wine-dresser" the universal dimension of the Church.

 Project Ermida do Cristo do Silêncio
 Location Casa de Oração de Santa Rafaela Maria, Quinta de Santo António, Serra do Louro, Palmela
 Date 2005
 Architects Bernardo Pizarro Miranda
 Collabortors Dina Gonçalves Ferreira e Miguel Gorgulho
 Client Congregação das Escravas do Sagrado Coração de Jesus
 Photo DMF Fotografia, Lda | Daniel Malhão, Bernardo Pizarro Miranda