A beige-colored chapel dominates the natural landscape of Lagos with its "pure architecture" and paintful skin, completed by the Pritzker Prize-winning architect Álvaro Siza.

Named Capela do Monte (Hillside Chapel), the one-story structure occupies a footprint of 10.34 x 6.34 meters (34 x 21 feet) and is built without electricity, heat or running water, relying on natural ventilation and materials, such as insulated brick, limestone and tiles, to keep it cool in the summer and warm in the winter.  

Southwest view from above, highlighting the chapel in the surrounding natural landscape of the Algarve

The small chapel was built at the center of a new masterplan - called Monte da Charneca Center, which is scheduled to open in early 2021. The project is a privately funded initiative that will offer visitors to Portugal’s Algarve region a peaceful, spirit-restoring retreat. 

Conceived by a Swiss-American couple who have lived in the area since the mid-1980s, the Center has now its focal point a non-denominational Christian chapel designed by the Pritzker Prize-winning architect Álvaro Siza.

Southwest view of the chapel in the morning

"Seven typical houses, sensitively restored over the past 30 years with a local heritage architect, already form the renewed core of Monte da Charneca, a farming hamlet that like many others in the region fell into abandonment and ruin," stated in a press release. 

"In addition to encompassing the seven houses, the 7-hectare Center (17.3 acres) has its own water supply, is energy self-sufficient through solar power, and maintains an orchard with citrus, almond, fig, and olive trees." 

A view of south façade, highlighting the entrance of the chapel

The next phase of development will add a handful of new residential structures in a consistent architectural style, along with facilities to help revitalize traditional agricultural activity and welcome visitors. 

Together with the Siza chapel, these elements will make the Monte da Charneca Center a destination for spiritual retreats, conferences, eco-and agro-tourism, and rural holidays, only 10-20 minutes from the beaches and historic sites of the Algarve coast.

A view from the outside platform

Commissioned in 2016, Siza accepted the commission to design the Capela do Monte as the focal point of the Center, at the highest point on the property. 

Siza was inspired by the beauty of the site, and his desire was to create a design in the Algarve where he has never before realized a building, and his pleasure at being asked for what he calls “a pure architectural project.”

North west view of the chapel right after the sunset

The beige-colored Capela do Monte can be reached only by way of a foot path. The architect has designed the chapel’s cross, altar, bench and chairs, all produced by the Oporto-based carpenters Serafim Pereira Simões Sucessores, and has made drawings for murals depicting scenes from the life of Jesus, realized in tile by the Portuguese company Viúva Lamego. A churchyard (or adro) of roughly the same size as the building extends the chapel to the west.

South view at dusk highlighting the entrance of the chapel

"As the Algarve is similar in climate and topography to North Africa, Siza looked to the architecture of Egyptian architect Hassan Fathy, who pioneered the use of natural ventilation systems." 

Southwest view of the chapel at dusk

The chapel has no electricity, heating or running water. It relies on natural ventilation and the structure itself to keep the building cool in summer and warm in winter.

The chapel is well integrated into the surrounding dry and natural landscape; no surrounding trees or bushes have been removed to build the chapel.

Hand-painted tile panels designed by Alvaro Siza Vieira depicting the birth of Christ

Hand-painted tile panels designed by Alvaro Siza Vieira depicting the baptism of Christ

Aerial view emphasizing the geometry of the chapel and its surrounding natural landscape

Morning view of the entrance patio of the chapel, highlighting the tile panels drawn by Alvaro Siza Vieira

Interior view of the chapel with the morning light entering from above

Interior view of the chapel with the morning light entering from above

Entrance patio of the chapel in the evening. The sun enters through the opening next to the floor, illuminating the chapel

Interior view of the chapel, facing east. At sunset, the light enters the chapel illuminating the altar area

Alvaro Siza recently won a competition for pedestrian and cycle bridge between Cerveira and Tomiño. The architect also completed his first church in France with white coloured interlocking concrete volumes. 

All images © Joao Morgado

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