This small church, designed by the portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Vieira, is one of his best-known works. The church is a simple rectangle (16.5m wide x 16.5m high) with the main entrance to the South West and the nave and alter at the opposite end. 400 wooden chairs designed by Siza himself are interrupted by a 3m wide central aisle which leads to the alter of solid marble. One of the key aspects of the architecture of Álvaro Siza is the buildings relationship with natural light. Natural light enters through three large openings that are cut into the ceiling level of the curving north-west wall. The low horizontal opening along the south-east wall beautifully frames the mountains that surround the site. By the altar are two large light shafts that admit light into the mortuary chapel that lies below.
joaoslr says
This small church, designed by the portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Vieira, is one of his best-known works. The church is a simple rectangle (16.5m wide x 16.5m high) with the main entrance to the South West and the nave and alter at the opposite end. 400 wooden chairs designed by Siza himself are interrupted by a 3m wide central aisle which leads to the alter of solid marble. One of the key aspects of the architecture of Álvaro Siza is the buildings relationship with natural light. Natural light enters through three large openings that are cut into the ceiling level of the curving north-west wall. The low horizontal opening along the south-east wall beautifully frames the mountains that surround the site. By the altar are two large light shafts that admit light into the mortuary chapel that lies below.
More info and images: https://www.archdaily.com/112535/ad-classics-santa-maria-church-de-canaveses-alvaro-siza
Photo source
Crossposted from r/ModernistArchitecture