Mario Botta - Sacred Spaces

I've been a long time fan of Mario Botta's work, and I wanted to take a more in-depth look at some of the church projects he's completed. I've included map links to make it easy for anyone architectural tourists out there to find these projects and visit, which I highly recommend.

Botta's Sacred Spaces
In 1995 Evry, France saw the completion of Botta's design for the Cathedral of Resurrection. He says, "I believe the cathedral is a necessity for those who believe and also for those who do not. It is a testimony that connects us to the great past, when our beautiful, old cities were new." The cathedral is just over 17,000 sq ft in size. Aerial view in google maps.

(exterior, Cathedral of the Resurrection)

(interior, Cathedral of the Resurrection, by flickr user Clement Guillaume)

(section, Cathedral of the Resurrection)

In the late 1990's he was commissioned to replace the facade of a church in Genestrerio, Italy that was in severe disrepair. Botta's facade is supported by a concrete bearing structure with split red Verona stone. Aerial view in google maps.

(by flickr user ticinoinfoto)

If you're willing enough to make the drive up to Mogno, Italy through steeply inclining roads and hairpin turns you'll be pleasantly rewarded with black and white Chapel of St. John the Baptist. The dark stone courses are Riveo granite, the white are Peccia marble. A 1986 avalanche destroyed much of the village and the church; this was designed as a replacement and a stand of defiance for the village in response the the destructive force of nature they had experienced. Google Map link here.

(exterior, Mogno Chapel)

(interior, Mogno Chapel)

A great video showing the approach to the chapel as well as a walk thru:


One of my personal favorite buildings would include Botta's Chapel of St. Mary of the Angels, atop Monte Tamaro in Switzerland. I did a previous blog post on this building, found here. This black and white photo is still the best I've found. Google Maps link here.

A video from the 'catwalk' on top of the Chapel at Monte Tamaro. the view is unparalleled:


Botta From a Distance
As an additional note, many of Botta's buildings are strong and simple geometric shapes, and often he doesn't deviate much from that. Many times a simple truncated cylinder, they tend to stand out clearly in a landscape, town or city. As the photos below illustrate, Botta's buildings have the fantastic quality of both blending in with the townscapes they exist in, while uniquely defining themselves.

(Residence in Stabio, 1981, by flickr user jpmm)

(Chapel of St. Mary of the Angels, 1996, by flickr user numstead)

(Church of St. John the Baptists, Mogno, 1998 by flickr user *chiara*)

(Chiesa del Santo Volto, Turin, Italy, 2006, by flickr user tubo_zeta)