Igreja de Santa Maria

Igreja de Santa Maria
Entering the city, the first sight of the building is of its north-east façade, lighter and more pliable than the main façade due to its curvilinear forms and the different height of its several volumes.

On the other hand, the main façade leads to a passage zone, a residential quarter, an institute, a playground, and soon to a parish center.

Another two façades complete the set: on the south-east, an enormous wall, white and rectangular, with a narrow and horinzontal opening at the bottom; the north-west façade exhibits five enormous windows through which the sunlight at its zenith enters.

It is a controled ilumination, filtered by its own direction, so as to avoid the nave being flooded by too much light.

Before entering the church, the main access door, tall and noble, bears an enormous weight on the building's façade.

Once inside, one sees an «empty box», full of order and light, in which a curvilinear wall of great visual impact stands out.

This wall gives depth to three great windows.

The presbytery stands on a slightly elevated zone in relation to the nave and is reached by three steps.

The light and transparent design of this nave required an adequate furniture.

The chairs are seats light in weight and colour, functional and safe.

Their profile disceretly suggest the inclination of people in prayer.

Quoted (sic) from Atlas de Arquitectura Actual, de Francisco Asensio Cerver (Konemann Verlagsgesellschaft, Colónia)