CHAPEL - Interior Renovation
The aim of this project was to remake and remodel the interiors of Santissimo Sacramento Chapel in the village of A-dos-Negros, 3 km away from the village of Obidos.
Built in the 19th century by the private sector, the chapel saw its derelict state lead to an external intervention in 2012. However and due to its weakening structural condition, further intervention was then made by us. Therefore, our involvement took into account three premises: the first one had to do with the visual appearance of the chapel, which didn’t allow an overall view of the building through the available seating areas, not to mention a large guard located on the choir that did not let light into the interior of the chapel, and by doing so, it constrained the space. The other aspect had to do with the materials’ degradation, which was more than evident and kind of departed from the most important premise concerning this project - the identity component.
The project was based on the narrative of the materials that made up the intervention in the chapel. Wood (pine), Stone (Ataíja) and sand plaster define the building materiality - providing furniture, floor and identity. Beneath the choir area, another intervention was proposed, allowing an insight into the altar all the way through the seating area. The choir’s "first floor”, a wooden slatted structure, defines protection at its best, being both a safety element and a light filter, which allows the only existing window proportionate light into the chapel.