SAINT-JACQUES DE LA LANDE CHURCH -

SAINT-JAQUES DE LA LANDE

The programme is distributed across two levels by superimposing a cylinder with a 14.75 m outer diameter on a 16xi6 m square plan with a total height of 12 m. The Parish Centre and the church are on the first and second floors respectively, with a smaller 97.2 m2 basement for the technical and storage areas. 

Two rectangular volumes break off to the west of this core, framing the entrance atrium and spanning the full height of the building. Another two iden­tical quadrangular volumes lie to the east, along with a cantilevered half cylinder that emerges from the top floor. 

Circulation between the two floors is via a lift and two stairways —one of them enclosed— with two flights. The central part of the church has seating for 126, with access tor the disabled. 

A side chapel to the south contains the baptismal font, a semicir­cular apse (Chapel A) contains the image of the Virgin and the tabernacle, and a lateral chapel on the north side (Chapel B) contains the crucifix. A raised platform extends above chapels A and B, the base of the altar and the pulpit. The diagonal axis of the congregation area, which runs from the mam stairs towards the crucifix, defines the position of the attar. The restricted access sacristy is on the upper floor of the volume containing the lift and the enclosed staircase. 

A square platform is suspended above the cylindrical space of the church to control the light entering through the clerestory and hold the lighting and ventilation equipment. The sides of this square panel are parallel to the axis of the congregation zone. This church is thus lit from above and indirectly, reflecting off the ceiling and the cylindrical walls. Another two small clerestories are set above the image of the Virgin and the baptismal font. Light enters Chapel B through a glazed west-facing shaft. 

The church is built using white reintorced concrete bearer walls with internal thermal insulation. The marks of the formwork used in its construction will be visible on the facades. The interior of the church and the Parish Centre are paved with marble. The walls are painted after instaling a 110cm high marble panel, except for the kitchen and bathrooms. The pavements in the basement have an epoxy fin­ish and 220cm high epoxy wall protection. The exterior frames are in wood with an aluminium finish on the outer face.

Credits: Joao Morgado