OBSERVED
CALLED HOME TO HELP continued from page 34
The broken-stone floor, a type commonly
found in the community, rolls all the way
out to the curb, making it easier for children
with disabilities to enter the chapel.
the firm worked closely with a local structural engineer, Melquiades
Castillo Jr. (who also volunteered his services), throughout the design
process. The perimeter walls are further characterized by vertical
concrete fingers, which pull away from each other at points, making
tall openings. For added integrity, they also form two horizontal bands
that wrap continuously around the entire structure, hugging it in an
unshakable embrace.
Inside, the arrangement of the fingers creates light slots in the walls,
which were painted blue and red inside and glow with color on sunny
days. The broken-stone floor, typical for the region, flows seamlessly
between street and chapel to provide easy access for the children.
Thirteen-foot-high doors made from slats of tanguile (a local wood)
“It’s really more of a pavilion than
a building,” Stan Allen says. “It’s not
separated from the environment,
and the wind blows right through.”
mark the entrance. Wanting to keep the interior open and airy, the
firm also designed wooden chairs and small benches rather than traditional pews—furniture for which it’s still trying to find the funding
to build. The chapel opened in June, and the congregation has been
using plastic garden chairs in the interim. Despite such funding-related hiccups, “It’s been very satisfying,” Allen says. “It feels good
contributing to this organization.” —Tim McKeough T
