The parish complex is made up of two main elements that are identified by the functions of the religious centre. The first element, the Church, is a monolith of pure geometry which accommodates the suspension of a volume within another, while drawing attention to the sense of verticality. The dimensions of the major external volume, 30 x 22,5 meters and 25 meters high, correspond to the dimensions of the room.

The second element, an extended and short parallelepiped, houses the Vestry, the premises of the Pastoral Ministry and the Rectory.

A third translucent body, the Ferial Chapel, connects and separates the two main elements.

Inside the monolith, a perimetral cut offering a glance of the sky lights up the interstitial space between the two volumes contained one within the other.

Structural elements in the shape of a pyramidal frustum connect the external volume to the suspended one and create openings having the same geometrical shape that are carved on the northern and southern sides of both volumes. From these openings – with an irregular cut – beams of light enter directly inside the room The interior was intended to emphasize the centrality of the Altar, whereas the Baptismal Font and the Ambon are located asymmetrically to the former. The dominant idea is to underline the active role of the celebrating Assembly.

The design of the interior and the lighting bodies evokes the idea of essentiality and purity. The sober shape of the oak pews inspires meditation. The religious ornaments made of stone, such as the Altar, the Ambon and the Baptismal Font, are emphasized by the beams of light crossing the monolith both vertically and obliquely. The effect created during the day by the natural light is recreated at night by hanging lights whose angular shape retraces the profile of the openings carved on both volumes.

The Master Enzo Cucchi has created the monument “Stele-Croce” for the area outside the Church, a 13,50 meter high sculpture, made of concrete and Carrara white marble, that also becomes an architectural element.

The Master Mimmo Paladino has created the 14 iron sculptures representing the Stations of the Cross.

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SITE
Foligno, Perugia, Italy

ADDRESS
Via del Roccolo, Foligno, Perugia

PERIOD
2001-2009

CLIENT
Italian Episcopal Conference – Diocesi of Foligno

ARCHITECTS
Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas

INTERIOR DESIGN
Fuksas Design

CONTRACTOR
Ediltecnica SpA, Foligno

AREA
1,300 sq. m.

INTERVENTION AREA
20,690 sq. m.

STRUCTURES AND ENGINEERING
AI ENGINEERING s.r.l.,Torino; Engineer Gilberto Sarti, Rimini

ARTISTIC INTERVENTIONS
Enzo Cucchi, Mimmo Paladino

SACRED FURNITURE IN STONE
FUKSAS DESIGN: Scalpellino Maurizio Volpi

SACRED FURNITURE IN WOOD
FUKSAS DESIGN
Falegnameria Bertini

LIGHTING
FUKSAS DESIGN
iGuzzini lighting

COST
3,600,000 Euros