Rwanda Chapel

In between earth and heaven, is where past and living souls come close, untouchable but feel able.
It is a place full of peace, a place where we feel the closest to ourselves and what we believe in, where each soul defines its own rhythm and way to spirituality.
The ritual to connect body and soul with the divine starts with the walk to the chapel.
Locating the simple light roof peaking through the forest, carried by its own forest of static pillars, that creates a transparent filter in between the surrounding territory and its interior. A roof that spreads itself out to offer a save place for people from all sites, to remain alone or together.
Enclosed by pillars and marked by the centric impluvium, the atrium creates the connection between earth & heaven, sun & rain, light & darkness. Saving the rainwater in its middle to give it a new use. Feeling the fugacity of the moment, by every single raindrop falling or beam of light touching. A space, formed to host its guests in different ways, whether they are alone, supported and protected by the structure or together as a community, singing, praying and believing.
A multi-usable space working as a filter in between different levels, as a transition to the heart of the chapel and as an extension by hosting more than 150 guests.
Facing the atrium, the curved walls create the threshold between parvis and chapel. They invite to follow the pathway, down the long stairs to the corridor that leads to the chapel’s heart. Walking down feeling the walls growing, assuming importance and strength. Step by step getting closer to the main element earth, the essence of life.
A narrow opening at the vertex marks the entrance and leads to the chapel’s interior, reaching to the ellipsoidal nave, fully made of earth, simple and basic. Created with the excavated material, transformed to a protecting shell. Feeling its total mass and constant temperature the body reconnects to the earth. The element of what we all are made of, where everything comes from and ends. Where the basic of the element allows to establish the connection with the divine inside all of us.