The binational collective MAPA, based in Uruguay and Brasil, designed Sacromonte chapel as a prefabricated structure in the productive landscape of the sierras of eastern Uruguay. The building, described as a ‘landscape amplifier’ by the studio, has been conceived as a contemporary sacred space subtly open towards the surroundings, merging interior and exterior space.
![](/content/dam/domusweb/en/news/2018/07/04/uruguay-a-prefabricated-chapel-in-the-vineyards/gallery/domus-mapa-chapel-finotti-2.jpg.foto.rmedium.png)
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The structure consists of two 9x6 meters cross-laminated timber planes, converging but never touching, both leaning on a metallic platform that gives the building a sense of suspension from the ground. A floating box made of black translucent onyx – containing a statue of the Vergin of ‘La Carrodilla’ – perforates one of the timber planes breaking the symmetry of the archetypal-like. This element brings light into the space as if it was a cannon-lumière. The production process of the materials was entirely made in Portugal; the pieces were then transported on site and assembled in just one day.
![MAPA, Sacromonte chapel, animated axonometry MAPA, Sacromonte chapel, animated axonometry](/content/dam/domusweb/en/news/2018/07/04/uruguay-a-prefabricated-chapel-in-the-vineyards/domus-mapa-chapel-sacromonte-1.gif.foto.rmedium.gif)
- Project:
- Sacromonte chapel
- Location:
- Sacromonte, Uruguay
- Program:
- chapel
- Architect:
- MAPA
- Partners:
- Luciano Andrades, Matías Carballal, Andrés Gobba, Mauricio López, Silvio Machado
- Project team:
- Pablo Courreges, Diego Morera, Emiliano Lago, Fabián Sarubbi, Sandra Rodríguez, Rafael Solano, Agustín Dieste, Alba Álvarez, Miquel Castellà, Marcos Gómara, Victoria Reibakas, Sebastián Lambert, Lucy Braunstein, Marie-Lise Hofstetter, Claire Gardan, Helena Utzig, Joao Bernardi
- Structure:
- RDA Ingeniería
- Production:
- Portilame (Portugal)
- Assembly and installation:
- MAPA + Cosia y Pombo
- Foundations:
- Pablo Trucido
- Transport:
- Carrión Transportes
- Onyx box manufacturer:
- Laviere Vitacca
- Cross:
- Taller Capitán
- Completion:
- 2017