© 2025 beautell arquitectos
© 2025 beautell arquitectos
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For years, the community of El Pris had aspired to build their own chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, a figure of deep devotion among local fishermen. Previous attempts to construct a place of worship had been unsuccessful due to various setbacks and location issues. The chosen plot—tucked beside the old jetty—was challenging due to its small, irregular shape, steep terrain, and legal restrictions from coastal regulations. Limited funding added to the complexity of the project.
In a setting defined by informal, self-built homes, the chapel was designed to complete the existing urban fabric without disrupting its character. Conceived as a simple, truncated cylinder, the volume rises toward the altar, creating a vertical tension that draws the eye and spirit upward. A small oratory, shaped like a cave, and a sacristy accompany the main space, forming a sheltered courtyard that buffers the chapel from strong coastal winds. The interior is a continuous circular space, centered around a monolithic concrete altar bathed in blue-tinted light from above.
Material austerity defines the project. Exposed and bush-hammered concrete, coarse textured renders, and a floor of smoothed concrete create a quiet, ascetic atmosphere. Embedded in the concrete altarpiece are fragments of blue glass—sourced from bottles shared with neighbors during the cornerstone ceremony. The circular plan symbolizes the maternal embrace of the Virgin Mary, who presides from the north as Stella Maris, the Star of the Sea, guiding seafarers through the night.