The chapel, designed by architect Smiljan Radić, draws inspiration from small commemorative chapels known as "animite" found in Chile, abandoned along roadsides and adorned with shapes and colors typical of circus tents. It takes on a conical shape and is constructed from eight large reinforced concrete elements, each ten centimeters thick. The unique texture on the interior surfaces is achieved using bubble wrap, a common packaging material that lined the formwork. In the center, there is a cross made from a metal beam and a tree trunk on a concrete pedestal.
At the top, a large steel beam spans the chapel, serving both as support for the two glass panels forming the roof and as an element of a large cross.
Access to the chapel is through a massive wooden door reminiscent of Chilean farmhouses. Even when closed, the door always leaves a small gap that invites entry.
Foto di Veronica Giannella per Fondazione Giorgio Cini.
