View towards the entrance of the chapel
Project Name: Rwanda Chapel
Competition Year: 2018
Typology: Religious
Location: Rwanda
Design Team: Brett Mahon, Rahul Palagani, Ramya Reddy & Rishabh Sharma
The Chapel is ‘designed’ for the real world. This journey to the origins is not a visit to the exotism of the primitive, but a trip to the genuine sources of design. The designed space diminishes the boundary between the interior and exterior, blending into the nature outside. The main altar represents the silence in the roaring glow of sunlight. Into the darkness and light, both mutually dependent and yet far away from each other. Representing these anti-poles for humankind into a series of shadow and light spaces taking the devotees through strata of the history of culture and civilization.
The chapel follows a traditional design despite its contemporary approach. The bell tower and the Cross not only become visible signs from the valley and around but also call the community of believers. The first reception space is a semi-sunken patio on one side of the axis and the existing cloister on the other.
The cloister is carefully enclosed within new perforated walls, giving it a more private space for the nuns. The altar is portrayed with nature as its backdrop putting it at a constant flux and defining the place of revelation of the divine. It also guides the devotees to their path within the Chapel as it is positioned on the central axis.
Entrance Patio
Site Plan
Site Section
Axonometric view of the Chapel
Adopted methodology of the roof structure
The prime feature of the project is the expressive tectonic character given by the usage of locally available materials, a sublime handling of the light and the simple treatment of the space. From the moment you enter the chapel, the colours and the games of lights and shadows will surprise the devotees exposing them to the divine in its true form, blended with nature.
The traditional use of local materials in construction generates employment for the people who plant and process the material, the artisans who do the construction work and most of all, it allows to keep the ancestral tradition which provides a healthy environment for the people.
The layer of Papyrus thatch roof breathes, so the air is always renewed as it takes advantage of natural ventilation.
The walls are composed of two layers, one of rammed earth and the other of compressed earth blocks. The placement order of compressed earth blocks allows the easy flow of air and light throughout.
Adopted methodology of the wall structure