Mugno Chapel; From complete destruction to circular architecture with a glass roof

The Church of San Giovanni Battista in the village of Mugno, Switzerland, is now a case study in post-crisis architecture and building ecology. The old building of this church was destroyed by a devastating avalanche in 1986; But Italian architect Mario Botta restored the building, focusing on structural sustainability and modern aesthetics. Today, the church has become a tourist and architectural landmark in Switzerland. (suzannelovelinc)

The main priority in Buta’s design was to ensure the resistance of the structure against possible future natural disasters. This goal was achieved by using completely native materials of the region and a unique volumetric design.

Photographer: Enrico Cano / itecturaldigest.com

The interior and exterior of the church are covered with alternating horizontal bands of gray granite and white marble. These stones were extracted from local quarries in the Maggia Valley, which are similar to the materials used in some Tuscan Romanesque churches.

While using reinforced concrete for the infrastructure, Botha used a large amount of native stones. Only two church bells from the middle of the 18th century were saved from the rubble. These two bells were placed in the new building to preserve the historical depth of the project.

Photographer: Bimbo-como / juzaphoto.com

Due to its exact location on the site of the old church, this building has very small dimensions and its interior is designed to seat only 15 people. The circular design of the structure from the exterior distinguishes it from the traditional rural context of Mugno. In the architecture of the building, a rectangle is engraved inside an external oval, which finally turns into a circle on the roof surface.

Photographer: Unknown / suzannelovellinc.com

One of the outstanding technical features is the complete removal of conventional windows. The natural lighting of the church is provided exclusively through a circular glass roof, which is placed with a diagonal cut on the stone body. This juxtaposition between solid stone and light glass evokes an immovable force that is delicately balanced.

Botha, who has a history of designing several religious spaces, said this about his interest in this type of architecture:

I am not very interested in the future; Rather, the values ​​of the past are important and valuable to me.

This project is a successful example of combining contemporary architecture with a commitment to local materials and history.

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Cover photo source: myswitzerland.com, photographer: unknown