all images Pablo Vicens +Vicens + Ramos study

Madrid-based architecture firm Vicens + Ramos designed an emblematic church in the city of Madrid called ''Parish Church of Santa Monica'', which was cladded with ’corten-steel’ material. The bold-striking material application appeared on the whole facade of the structure that strengthens the iconic image of the building in the local area. 

Vicens + Ramos says ''the project whose is already completed is the third proposal. The first two were rejected, and it is a shame. We think that from the point of view of the adequacy of the liturgical norms of Vatican II were much more interesting. The first project, and worked very thought seems to us perhaps the best proposal temple we have ever done.And that the sun was impossible. A remnant of urbanization, narrow and long, which served no purpose and therefore was ceded to the bishopric''

The shape of the plot demanded a directional arrangement, as that is finally built. These directional patterns do not conform to liturgical requirements today. It's called The Sword and the trowel. The studio adds that ''we turn to history. Because everything is already said. One can only express it differently. We return to the idea of Bernini in this fascinating temple Sant'Andrea al Quirinale. 

''The plant is an ellipse in which the minor axis is the main and largest subordinate. We also force the entry by the minor axis and place in it the seat, the ambo and the altar. And concentrates all the hierarchical density. On the sides, the people, the major axis, democratic. In this way we were getting was that the altar in the center, as specified, and all attendees could see perfectly and they saw each other.'' ''A physically longitudinal space became a central space.''

Due to the limited budget, the studio decided to use Corten steel material in the building, providing continuity of the existing houses and unifying the houses of the priests and the parish center with the temple. The head of the building explodes skylights that mark outside the presbytery, and are the pièce de resistance of the temple. They form a very interesting altarpiece light.

''The construction is very simple with metal structure, Corten cladding and plasterboard cladding. We have had many problems with the builder and lack of money. But once again the work is saving the enthusiastic dedication of the parish priests, who have been several. The current is passionate about architecture and vibrates with the work.'' adds the designers of Vicens + Ramos.

Vicens + Ramos has been involved in the project to a number of artists who are working with admirable generosity. José Manuel Ciria has painted all the Blessed Sacrament Chapel;only to see it is worth closer to there. It is a mural depicting the creation of the world. A masterpiece of a heroic expressionism, like everything Ciria, but at the time subtle, delicate, full of nuances. Awesome. Also the images of the Virgin and Santa Monica, Javier Viver, are very special. Viver is a young artist, specializing in video art. In this case he has made some figurative works; faces, hands and feet; the rest is a magma of cloths in torsion, reminiscent proposals Bernini Ludovica Albertoni for beata, or the Ecstasy of St. Teresa. The crucifix, a truly important piece, is José Luis Sánchez.

No one disputes that is one of the sculptors who has done most sacred art in Spain since the fifties. The studio worked with him as a tribute to a man who revolutionized the sacred art; and he has been generous enough to give a splendid Christ who presides over the presbytery. The Via Crucis is the work of José Antonio Ramos: fourteen steel crosses, all different, treated with painted bandages. And the wonderful Christ of the sacristy is Javier Martinez, a young also extraordinarily gifted sculptor. He made the risen Christ and the Virgin Parish Villalba.

Finally, the great main altar, ambo, the headquarters and the baptismal font have been painted by Fernando Pagola. Fernando has done murals and paintings for many of our works, and with a generosity that never thank enough, the parish has given his work. To think that artists such as José Luis Sánchez, José Manuel Ciria, Fernando Pagola, Javier Martinez, Jose Antonio Ramos, Javier Pirón or author of the Christ of the Chapel of Santísimo- have given his work and his work, without charging a euro it is truly exciting and certainly most rewarding experience of this work.

The church had a small budget and has become almost without means. But the magnanimity of the priest and the vicar, who do not stop at bars and always want the best, and the generosity of many people, is making a miracle possible.

Project Facts

Architects: Vicens + Ramos /  Ignacio Vicens and Hualde, Jose Antonio Ramos Abengózar

Location: Rivas-Vaciamadrid, Madrid, Spain

Completed: 2006

Client: Obispado de Alcalá de Henares

Architects partners: Fernando Gil, Agustin Toledano, Roberto Rodriguez-Paraja, Jesus Gomez, Desirée González, Pablo Gutiérrez, Barbieri Romina, Tibor Martin, Patricia Elena, Raul Rodriguez

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