Chapel in a Garden - La Estancia Chapel
2008
Bunker Arquitectura



Location: La Estancia Gardens, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico

Photos: Megs Inniss



Project Description:

The chapel was designed for a beautiful Mexican colonial garden that caters to weddings. It is located in the town of Cuernavaca, a one hour drive south of Mexico City. Since it lacked a chapel, previous weddings all took place under a light canvas canopy roof. Cuernavaca, “the city of eternal spring”, has become a very popular destination for couples from Mexico City. Its’ warm climate, relative proximity to the big city and beautiful gardens, make it a perfect wedding destination.



When we decided to build a crystal chapel our client suggested that we install air conditioning to counteract the heat that would be generated in the closed interior. We didn't approve the idea of using air conditioning, due to its high cost and the contamination of the surrounding environment it would engender, both important issues that led us to consider replacing the glass for another material. It was in the subsequent discussions that followed where we realized that we could continue to conserve the original crystal chapel design without the use of air conditioning, if we were to separate the U-profiled glass in the manner of lattice-work, and in so doing, create a well ventilated space as well as achieving a visual play between the interior and exterior.



The site that was decided upon for the chapel was carefully chosen, within an enormous area of abundant vegetation. We selected a location that would not require the removal of any of the existing plants or trees, under the large jacaranda trees, which form a natural arch over the chapel and provide it with ample shade, thus reducing temperatures during the day. We strived to bring about the least possible impact on the site.



The chapel was conceived in a box and compressed to form a peaked roof. Different shapes were traced on its lateral facades to form a prism which was then subtracted from the main volume. We covered the four facades with U-profiled glass and spaced each piece 10cm. apart from each other. In the altar façade, a cross was outlined and subtracted from the glass veil creating a window that looks out onto the surrounding garden. The exuberant vegetation and tall jacaranda trees permeate through the glass lattice walls, creating a graceful and rhythmical dialogue between the interior and exterior space.



La Estancia Chapel images / text from Bunker Arquitectura Aug 2008



Mexican Buildings

Site Area: 60,000 sqm
Gross Floor Area: 117 sqm
Building Height: 6.5 m
Client/Owner: Promotora Amates
Principals: Esteban Suarez, Jorge Arteaga, Sebastian Suarez, Santiago Gitanjalli
Collaborators: Paola Moire, Diana Arroyo, Miguel Angel Martinez, Jimena Muhlia
Main Contractor: ETASA
Mechanical & Electrical Engineer: Cien Acres
Civil & Structural Engineer: DAE


La Estancia Chapel Photo: Sebastian Suárez

Company Profile

Firm: Bunker Arquitectura
Location: Mexico City
Design Staff: 14

Principals: Esteban Suarez (born 1978), Jorge Arteaga (born 1978), Sebastian Suarez (born 1981), Santiago Gitanjalli (born 1979)

Education: Esteban Suarez: Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City, M. Arch, 2003; Jorge Arteaga: Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City, M. Arch, 2003; Sebastián Suarez, Universidad del Nuevo Mundo, Mexico City, M. Graphic Design. 2005

Work History: Esteban: LCM, 2000; Jorge: Manada 2003; Santiago: Manada 2004

Key Completed Projects: Café AM-BAR, Mexico City, Mexico, 2005; Centro Qi, Mexico City, Mexico, 2005; Alviento Torre 01, Acapulco, Mexico, 2007; Capilla La Estancia, Cuernavaca, Mexico, 2007; Triumph Motorcycle Agency, 2007

Key Current Projects: Residencial Filadelfia, Mexico City, Mexico, 2008; Urban Planning for the 2011 Panamerican Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, 2008-11.

Web site: www.bunkerarquitectura.com

Bunker Arquitectura is a young architectural and design firm established in 2004 (all of the principals are under 30). Esteban Suarez, Jorge Arteaga and Santiago Becerra met while studying architecture at university, worked in different jobs after graduating, and then teamed up with graphic designer Sebastian Suarez, (Esteban´s brother), to form Bunker Arquitectura. The firm’s first office space was located in a windowless basement, (an actual bunker), in the foundations of a building; hence, the name.

Mexico House



World Architecture : e-architect - a guide to key buildings across the globe

Mexican Architect - Luis Barragán

Mexican House by Pascal Arquitectos : Mourning House

Buildings / photos for the La Estancia Chapel Mexico page welcome:
info@e-architect.co.uk

Contemporary Mexican Church : page - adrian welch / isabelle lomholt