San Josemaría Escrivá Church

Mexico City, Mexico

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San Josemaría Escrivá Church

Mexico City, Mexico

Firm

Sordo Madaleno

Type

Cultural › Religious
Government + Health › Community Center

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2009

SIZE

25,000 sqft - 100,000 sqft

Located on a reclaimed urban site in Santa Fe; the Josemaría Escrivá Church and Community Center is built around the relationship between architecture and light. The design concept began with the repetition of seven golden rectangles, over which are traced two curved lines that refer to the traditional Ichthus or fish symbol. These rise up in straight lines set on a diagonal to form a Cross of Light. On the outside, this geometric union forms two curved mantles clad with zinc panels. These generate interesting textures as the sun moves during the day. On the inside, the walls are clad with strips of wood that adapt to the curved walls that rise up without touching and allow light to enter .
For the external surfaces, zinc panels in the form of scales create an insulating and flexible skin that defines the structure erected over the stone plinth, a base formed from terraces where olive trees and other plants grow. The main building defines the overall form of the complex, with a narthex that stands out with its height and spatial organization, while the automatic doors opening onto the side atrium indicate the connection to the exterior. On the opposite side are located the confessionals, sacristy and choir, with skylights and openings that generate an interesting play of light and shadow and grant this area the required independence and privacy. This distribution permits interaction between the atrium and the entrance plaza, where the bell tower stands, providing a reference point for the church. The grand staircase of the patio leads down to the spaces that complete the program, including a library, the parish offices, the training center, and a small chapel beneath the presbytery, and the rosary crypts, made from granite with illuminated onyx niches. These spaces are incorporated into the formal concept of the church, which is generated by the intersection of curved elements. It is a vertical volume that forms a unique profile within the urban landscape of Santa Fe and Mexico City.