© 2025 beautell arquitectos
© 2025 beautell arquitectos
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The project involves designing a small chapel dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, with a capacity for 40 people and a weekly liturgical celebration. Due to limited financial resources, the design aims for maximum efficiency and simplicity. The chapel takes the shape of a scalene triangle, adapting to the plot’s irregular geometry. Entry is through the base of the triangle, and the space narrows and rises toward the altar, emphasizing its symbolic and spatial significance.
Inside, the layout follows the sequence of Christian life, beginning with the baptismal font at the entrance and culminating in the altar and tabernacle, aligned along the building’s central axis. The chancel is naturally lit and features a carved concrete cross that marks the vertical focus of the space. Materials are intentionally austere: various types of exposed concrete contrast with rough island plaster finishes. Elements such as steel doors and recycled wood panels reflect a restrained material palette rooted in local availability.
The triangular form becomes a sacred symbol, referencing the Holy Trinity, and is central to the chapel’s conceptual and spatial organization. The life of Saint John the Baptist, marked by asceticism and simplicity, serves as inspiration for the building’s minimalist architecture. More than a stylistic choice, the chapel’s austerity responds to necessity, using humble, local materials to create a space of quiet reverence and spiritual clarity.