Reconstruction of a church in Mexico Architecture 10.02.2022 Architects from the studios Dellekamp Arquitectos and Agenda built an open concrete chapel on the site of a destroyed church of the XVI century. Rafael Gamo On September 19, 2017, a devastating earthquake occurred in Mexico, which destroyed many residential and public buildings on the southern coast of the country. Among them was the ancient church of Señor de Tula in the town of Hojutla near Mexico City. Architects from the Mexican studio Dellekamp Arquitectos and the Colombian bureau Agenda have developed a joint project to bring this important building to life for the local Christian community. An elegant open-air chapel appeared on the site of the destroyed building, which became not only a religious center, but also a poetic monument to the tragedy of 2017. The architects turned to the traditional silhouette of the basilica with a tower on the corner, but gave it a modern minimalist interpretation. The concrete structure looks light and airy thanks to the arched construction of the walls. The ceiling of the chapel was decorated by the authors with rows of brick vaults, and a laconic steel cross was installed under a long and narrow skylight. Rafael Gamo The drama of the chapel is determined by the slight slope of the floor: the space is organized in such a way that as they move towards the altar, the parishioners descend lower and lower on low steps. The altar part is marked by a semicircular concrete partition, behind which, on an elevation, there is a cross. Arched openings provide an influx of sunlight into the hall, where concrete benches with wooden backs are installed. Rafael Gamo Rafael Gamo Thinking over the project, the architects were inspired by other examples of open churches in Mexico, which were built by the first colonists. The work was carried out in close contact with local residents, and the Santuario del Señor de Tula chapel became a real center of public life. «The city was in a terrible state — there were no suitable places left for public meetings and meetings of residents,» the authors say. — We hope that Santuario del Señor de Tula will help restore ties between neighbors and become a meeting place for a variety of people. All differences, interests, ambitions, fears and beliefs will be connected thanks to the intermediary ability of architecture”» Rafael Gamo Rafael Gamo Rafael Gamo Rafael Gamo Rafael Gamo Rafael Gamo Rafael Gamo