Perched on a steep mountainside south of Rio de Janeiro, the Capela Joá finds elegantly simple ways to connect visitors with its dramatic landscape. Upon entering the chapel, its thin wood columns mostly disappear from sight, blurring the line between the interior and the surrounding tropical canopy. The chapel culminates in a glass portal that looks to the sky and ocean beyond. At night, the illuminated structure creates an ethereal appearance. However, for the chapel's architects, clarity was the most important factor: simplicity "improves the sensory experience of those seeking silence and reflection." Amen.
∙ Bernardes Arquitectura [Bernardes Arquitectura]
∙ Concrete Temple Balances Tradition and Modern Construction [Curbed]
∙ Would You Get Married in a Rainbow Wedding Chapel? [Curbed]