"I have tried to arrange the vast spaces and surfaces in such a way
that the gaze of visitors can be lost between the sky, the sea and the earth."
Renzo Piano
Photo: Christian Richters
The newly inaugurated church, will serve the large number of pilgrims visiting
the place where Saint Padre
Pio used to live.
Visitors are guided up the slope, along a long straight pedestrian path
with garden terrace zones extending along its sides. The path is aligned with
the entryway arch to the church and to the great cross that emerges, almost
40 meters tall, as a focal point on arrival. The first nine columns of the
parvis, reaching a height of 25 meters, support the eight bells that form
the original belltower of the church.
Photo: Christian Richters
Photo: Christian Richters
In the design by Renzo Piano, the worshippers are enveloped by a gigantic
snail shape, the outline of which is formed by a three-quarter circle of
steadily decreasing radius. The materials, selected to express simplicity
and solidity, are local stone, wood and glass.
The immense roof skin is finished in pre-patinated copper with a supporting
structure of wood and limestone.
Photo: Christian Richters
The supporting structure consists of two intermeshing rows of Apricena
stone arches arranged in a circle, a total of 21, that form an inner and
an outer ring with the arches of the outer ring representing scaled-down
copies of the inner ones.
The arches of the inner ring originate in the centre of the three-quarter
circle, where the altar is located.
Photo: Christian Richters
Since the spans of the arches steadily decrease, with the decreasing radius
of the circle, a spiral shape is created that is reminiscent of a snail’s
shell. The radial structure, divided into sectors seating 300-400, brings
the assembly as close as possible to the altar.
Photo: Christian Richters
The arch construction, together with a secondary structural system made
of wood, supports the wood ceiling. To allow for a certain amount of play
in the event of an earthquake steel cables have been stretched between the
arches.
The area, enclosed by the three-quarter circle of the outline, forms the
apex of a triangular square that slopes down towards the entrance.
The huge stained glass window, set in the stone arch, filters the light
entering the church that, otherwise, remains in semi-darkness with only a
light well above the altar.
Photo: Christian Richters
Photo: Christian Richters
Photo: Christian Richters
The pavement, covered with slabs of the same stone as the arches, connects
the church and the forecourt, and continues into the hall, blurring the
transition between the forecourt and the interior.
The forecourt holds up to 30,000 people who, because of the open, connection
between church interior and forecourt, can take part in the celebrations.
The crypt, chapels, confessionals and several modern administrative and
event rooms are located in the 11,000 square meter basement.
Sketch courtesy Renzo Piano
Drawing courtesy Renzo Piano Building Workshop
Photo courtesy Renzo Piano Building Workshop
Photo courtesy Renzo Piano Building Workshop
The cost of the building, which took 10 years to design and build, has
been met entirely by contributions from the faithful.
Church area: 6,000 square meters
Outside court: 9,000 square meters
Copper roof surface: 19,500 square meters
Construction start: 1993
Completed: July 2004
Photos courtesy Christian Richters, Münster (ChRichters@aol.com)
Copper specialists: KM Europa Metal AG
Copper processor: WAL S.R.L., Bregnano / Como
The use of the material TECU® Patina creates an interesting link between
tradition and innovation. Copper of the TECU® Patina brand is already pre-patinated
on one side using an industrial process at the factory, and thus has the appropriate
green surface right from the outset while, at the same time, the working
properties of copper are fully retained. The green patina typical of church
roofs is therefore immediately present without having to wait for decades
of oxidation.
Book
On Tour with Renzo Piano
By Renzo Piano
Publisher: Phaidon Press
A personal tour through some of the key buildings by the Renzo Piano Workshop.
Each project is introduced with text by Renzo Piano himself and colour photographs
take the reader on a visual guide around each building.
This book features 25 built projects presented chronologically, starting
from the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris and including the Beyeler Foundation
in Basel, the Potsdamer Platz masterplan in Berlin and the Renzo Piano Workshop
in Genoa.
Check the price at Amazon.com
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