NOTES
White church against blue sky

Marco de Canaveses, Portugal

Santa Maria Church

The church and parish centre stand on a raised granite platform above a road, at the edge of a small town in a hilly landscape. The Portuguese architect gave the church a tall white volume with two towers that frame a very high entrance door.

Inside, one long wall curves inward and is lit by three high windows hidden from view, while the opposite wall has a low horizontal window at eye level that opens toward the valley. Light falls from above onto the altar and the baptistery.

The architect also designed the chairs, altar and fittings, and the baptistery is lined with ceramic tile. A funeral chapel lies below the nave.

Project Information

Design studio
Álvaro Siza Vieira
Time
1996
Type
Cultural
Primary materials
Natural stone, Natural timber
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White towers framing the door
Credit: Fernando Guerra / FG+SG
Tall timber door
Credit: Fernando Guerra / FG+SG
Church tower and granite base
Credit: Fernando Guerra / FG+SG
White church in the landscape
Credit: Fernando Guerra / FG+SG
Granite platform and walls
Credit: Fernando Guerra / FG+SG
Main facade from the street
Credit: Fernando Guerra / FG+SG
White wall and tower
Credit: Fernando Guerra / FG+SG
Nave with wooden chairs
Credit: Fernando Guerra / FG+SG
Light from a high window
Credit: Fernando Guerra / FG+SG
White wall and soft light
Credit: Fernando Guerra / FG+SG
Stone font in the baptistery
Credit: Fernando Guerra / FG+SG
Rows of wooden chairs
Credit: Fernando Guerra / FG+SG
Altar and side window
Credit: Fernando Guerra / FG+SG
Curved wall at the top of the nave
Credit: Fernando Guerra / FG+SG
Lower chapel with a window
Credit: Fernando Guerra / FG+SG
White volumes and sky
Credit: Fernando Guerra / FG+SG
Church above the valley
Credit: Fernando Guerra / FG+SG
Aerial view over the town
Credit: Fernando Guerra / FG+SG
Aerial view of the church
Credit: Fernando Guerra / FG+SG
Church and parish centre from above
Credit: Fernando Guerra / FG+SG
Church at night from above
Credit: Fernando Guerra / FG+SG

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