International Prize for Sacred Architecture 2024 , Pavia/ Italien

Wettbewerbsaufgabe
Die Stiftung Frate Sole wurde mit dem Ziel gegründet, das Bewusstsein für die Notwendigkeit hervorragender Kirchen zu fördern und den Bau dieser Kirchen aktiv zu unterstützen. Die so konzipierten Kirchen sollten Ausdruck authentischer künstlerischer und mystischer Qualitäten sein, und der sakrale Raum, der das Ergebnis ihrer effektiven Kombination ist, sollte in der Lage sein, Gott sichtbar zu machen.

Zu diesem Zweck hat die Stiftung Frate Sole einen Preis ins Leben gerufen, der an den Architekten einer beliebigen christlichen Konfession verliehen wird, der in den letzten zehn Jahren ein Kirchengebäude von hervorragender Qualität geschaffen hat.

Der internationale Preis für sakrale Architektur "Frate Sole" wird alle vier Jahre anlässlich des Festes von S. Francesco d'Assisi, dem Fest von S. Francesco d'Assisi, verliehen.

Competition assignment
The Frate Sole Foundation has been created with the aim of stimulating awareness of the need for excellent churches and with the intention of giving active encouragement to their construction. Churches so conceived should be an expression of authentic qualities both artistic and mystical, and the sacred space which is the result of their effective combination should be capable of making God manifest.

To this end, the Frate Sole Foundation has set up a Prize to be conferred on the architect of any Christian confession who in the course of the ten preceding years has been responsible for an ecclesiastical building of undoubted excellence.

The International Prize of Sacred Architecture “Frate Sole” is assigned every four years, on the occasion of the feast of S. Francesco d’Assisi, festivity of S. Francesco d’Assisi.

Jury
Arch. Giorgio Della Longa
Arch. Cristián Undurraga
Arch. Caterina Parrello
Arch. Luigi Leoni
Prof. Arch. Axel Frűhauf
Don Luca Franceschini
Prof. Arch. Esteban Fernandez Cobian

Weitere Informationen zu allen Gewinner*innen finden Sie unter /
More information about all winners can be found at:
www.fondazionefratesole.org/en/vincitori-2024



PRESS RELEASE by Fernando Menis

Spanish architect Fernando Menis has been awarded the Frate Sole Prize for Sacred Architecture 2024

• The "Oscar" of religious architecture was bestowed upon the Holy Redeemer Church of Las Chumberas, located in a underprivileged neighborhood of Tenerife island

Spanish architect Fernando Menis has been awarded the 2024 Frate Sole International Prize for Sacred Architecture for the Holy Redeemer Church of Las Chumberas, Tenerife, selected out of 128 entries from 28 countries. Considered the "Oscar" of religious architecture, this prize is awarded every four years and carries a €15,000 award, alongside prizes for second and third place. Previous winners include renowned architects such as Tadao Ando, Álvaro Siza, Richard Meier, John Pawson, and Rafael Moneo. The awards ceremony will take place on October in Pavia, Italy.

The construction of The Holy Redeemer Church, spanning over fifteen years, has been a labour of love and dedication for the Las Chumberas neighbourhood of all those involved. Conceived to revitalise and give identity to this peripheral area on Tenerife Island, the church was funded through donations from parishioners, locals, and local businesses, becoming a symbol of collective effort. The innovative architecture of the church, designed by Fernando Menis, draws inspiration from the island's volcanic geology and uses natural light, concrete, and local stone to create an austere space that combines functionality and beauty, noted for its exceptional acoustics and energy efficiency.

The award adds to the accolades received by the work for its unique architecture, such as the 2022 International Award for Religious Architecture from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and Faith&Form, the 2012 Innovation Award with Concrete from the Ambuja Foundation of India, and its inclusion in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.

Founded in 1995 by Father Costantino Ruggeri, the Frate Sole Foundation promotes artistic values in Christian churches. In addition to the International Prize for Sacred Architecture, it organises the European Prize for the best thesis project of a new church and is an international reference in research on contemporary sacred architecture. It also promotes the work of its founder, a multifaceted artist who designed more than 30 churches worldwide.

INFO ON THE FOUNDATION FRATE SOLE’S WEBSITE:
www.fondazionefratesole.org/en/2024/07/08/vincitori-premio-internazionale-architettura-sacra-2024/

VIDEO SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT:
youtu.be/MoUs7iCOA90?si=m061kzs2L1q58xMV