PLAN AND CONSTRUCTION 2001 - 2004• Mario Botta |
The parish center stands next to and incorporates the 18th century Church of Saint Alexander martyr. The new church is located in the middle of a rectangular area facing the countryside on two sides and closed on the other two. It is limited by the old church in the northwest direction and the service unit and the church recreation center in the southeast direction. The square-plan church has a reinforced concrete support structure, which is externally faced with Verona stone, while inside the horizontal strip wooden panels enable the space to appear uniform and uninterrupted.
The continuity between inside and outside is provided by the Verona stone, which is used, in its polished version, for the floor, the tall perimetral skirt-board, some furniture (ambon, altar, chair) and the covering of the two apses in the presbytery. The bas-relief representing the crucifixion is the work of the sculptor Giuliano Vangi. Natural light floods in through the four glass windows on the roof and hits the side walls, which, covered with golden leaf, reflect throughout the church. The parish center is accessed from the parvis in front of the church after passing under the almost 100 meter long gallery that connects the priest’s house with the nearby services. Here are a multipurpose hall, rooms for catechesis, offices, a bar, an entertainment area and a play area. Outside, there are playing fields, while dressing rooms and a warehouse are located in the basement.
How to get there: By car: A4 exit Cassinone; SS671; SS498 By train: FFS Bergamo-Brescia line
Public opening hours: 8.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m. / 3.00 p.m. – 6.00 p.m.
Useful information: Telephone: 035.299709
Sources: Mario Botta, Chiesa a Seriate, Skira, Milano 2004
Gabriele Cappellato, Mario Botta. Luce e gravità, architettura 1993-2003, Editrice Compositori, Bologna 2003
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