Fernando Menis has been awarded with the Prize for Innovation in Concrete, Architecture category. This is a award given by the prestigious Ambuja Cement Foundation integrated by professionals and associations of cement and concrete. Finalist with 2 projects – Magma Art & Congress and of the Holy Redeemer Church, both buildings located in Tenerife – Menis has won however with this latest project.

© Simona Rota

Ambuja Foundation Knowledge Initiative: The Ambuja Knowledge Centre aims to support research into the possibilities of use of concrete and cement, based on the conviction that art and science of construction are greatly affected by the development of materials. As announced in its statement, «when properly understood and applied, the inherent qualities of concrete can result in prominent expressions of architecture»

The award «Innovation in Concrete» aims to identify, give public exposure and  reward good practices and outstanding expressions with concrete. In this context, the project  The Holy Redeemer Church by Fernando Menis has won the Award for Innovation in Concrete for the category «Architecture». The other two sections have been «Interior Design» and «Public Space».

Holy Redeemer Church in La Laguna: The Church and the Parish Center of Holy Redeemer, located in La Laguna, Tenerife, is a project promoted by the Bishopric of Tenerife through the Parish Los Majuelos to respond to the need expressed by neighbors to have a place with religious but also social functions but. Currently the Parish Center which occupies 2 of the 4 modules is in use and houses the office of pastor, library and additional service areas. The part of the church which occupies the remaining 2 modules  where the altar and the font would be located is still under construction pending on new funding sources.

The Church is located in the heart of Los Majuelos meighbourhood and is characterized by a strong topographic difference within the plot. A large ramp surrounds the building to give access to both the Plaza, as the parish. Light, conceived as one of the most important elements of this religious center, illuminates from above all the spaces, giving a mystical dimension to the rooms. The fundamental idea of the volumes is to create a landmark at its own urban context. Loose rocks (large volumes of raw concrete) form the entire project. The gaps between them become light wells and natural ventilation.

Site: Menis Arquitectos