Borrowing from tradition without copying historically established forms

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    Project entry 2014 Latin America – Laguna Chapel: Recycled timber church and community center, Zoh Laguna, Mexico

    The façades respond to the orientation.

The project comprises the rebuilding of a church of an old lumber town on a lagoon in the province of Campeche in Mexico. Wood from the original chapel and other buildings is recycled to erect a modular structure adapted to local timber construction. Respecting the site, the new church and community center define a square for public use, including cultural and educational programs that complement religious activities. The building ensemble uses passive ventilation; rainwater for drinking and irrigation is collected from the roof and outdoor surfaces; polluted water from the lagoon is cleaned.

Last updated: June 29, 2015 Zoh-Laguna, Mexico

The project comprises the rebuilding of a church of an old lumber town on a lagoon in the province of Campeche in Mexico. Wood from the original chapel and other buildings is recycled to erect a modular structure adapted to local timber construction. Respecting the site, the new church and community center define a square for public use, including cultural and educational programs that complement religious activities. The building ensemble uses passive ventilation; rainwater for drinking and irrigation is collected from the roof and outdoor surfaces; polluted water from the lagoon is cleaned.

Read project feature in 4th Holcim Awards 2014/2015 (flip-book)