The design strategy by Ricardo Yslas Gámez Arquitectos studio for the RLJ Chapel is based on integrating the building into its context, adapting it to the site's topography and respecting the existing vegetation. The use of exposed construction materials is what defines the project: concrete and steel, the main materials, contrast with natural materials such as wood and stone from the region
RLJ Chapel. Exposed concrete and steel contrasting with natural materials
Located in San Juan Cosalá, Jalisco, the RLJ Chapel is a religious building that is part of a larger project for an events and hospitality site. A place of worship with materiality and simplicity defined by the essential elements of a chapel, where the entrance of natural light and the interplay of materials create a serene and emotional environment
To promote the integration of the local community, the chapel's entrance is projected onto the main road, allowing both residents and visitors to access the building even though it's on a private plot. Externally, the Chapel has an entrance patio, serving as an atrium, built in carved stone, connecting to the restrooms, the sacristy, and the chapel's interior. This communal space is bordered by two massive elements of stone and concrete, framing the view towards the mountainous landscape
The main volume consists of two large concrete walls and a steel structure that shapes the roof: an open structure designed as a double-pitched roof that transitions into a flat roof. The Chapel's interior has 12 wooden benches accommodating 72 people, a choir area, and the altar zone
The perimeter walls extend outwards to form an open courtyard that connects to the underground crypts; at its center is a suspended steel cross, designed and produced locally. The patio culminates downward with a pink stone wall designed with a geometric path that emphasizes the depth of the open space
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