Architect Michail Georgiou merged two forms normal in Byzantine church architecture to develop the unusual curved shape of this chapel in Cyprus .
Situated in the coastal city of Paphos, the Apostle Peter and St Helen the Martyr Chapel attributes a two-humped profile that extends all the way along its length, creating matching elevations at the front and back.
Georgiou developed this form by combining the angular roofline of a double-aisle church, typical in the country’s mountain regions, with the barrel-vaulted single-aisle style more common in coastal areas.
“Morphologically, it is inspired by the regional orthodox ecclesiastical architecture, although, via a series of revolutionary building methods and resources, it presents a contemporary instance,” explained Georgiou.
Connected story: White concrete chapel by Gerhard Sacher features glazed walls that permit views appropriate through
“The complete chapel is formed by extruding a section along a longitudinal axis, which outcomes in a legible, light-weight and welcoming kind. The interaction of the extrusion with the programmatic elements of the creating creates complicated moments and rich spaces inside the volume.”
The double-arched profile divides the interior of the Greek Orthodox chapel up into two primary sections. The bigger side houses the main hall, which is flat and transparent at the front, but curved and opaque at the back.
The glazed frontage is screened behind a series of vertical louvres that get on the perform of a bell tower, with the bell itself housed in a modest arched opening. The curved back wall gives the chapel’s sanctuary.
The side aisle also characteristics curved walls. 4 arched openings connect this room with the chapel hall.
The constructing has a steel structural frame and reinforced concrete walls, but Georgiou also specified Ferrocement – a materials manufactured from reinforced mortar – to make the curved shell-like structures as thin as possible.
“The materials and building strategies have been revived and employed for the initial time on the island of Cyprus,” mentioned the architect. “Ferrocement permits better precision and versatility in adapting to the free-type shape at a significantly reduced construction cost.”
A 5.5-metre-high door makes it possible for the interior to open out to the surroundings. Other specifics incorporate a small cross positioned on the peak of the roof, clusters of low-hanging pendant lights, and timber-lined surfaces.
The Apostle Peter and St Helen the Martyr Chapel was completed in July 2015. Other recently finished chapels contain a see-by way of structure in rural Austria and a chapel in a forest clearing in Argentina’s Parque de la Cruz.
Photography is by Charis Solomou.
Task credits:
Architect: Michail Georgiou
Architectural design and style: Michail Georgiou, Theresa Kwok
Structural engineer: Odysseas Georgiou
Amount surveyor: Danae Kynigou
Mechanical engineer: Savvas Leonidou
Lighting design: Kyriaki Pafitou
Artist: Konstandinos Zannetos
Contractor: A Ioannou Constructions
Metal contractor: Makico Metal Contractors
Owner/sponsor: Petros and Elli Georgiou
Notion diagram 
Isometric diagrams 
Program 
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