Unveiling the Cohen: A Chapel of Pure Form and Light

Joaquim Portela's Award-Winning Design Marries Sacred Architecture and Contemporary Aesthetics

Joaquim Portela, a renowned architect, embarked on an ambitious project, the Cohen, inspired by a simple yet profound desire to create a sacred space. The project, although initially without a client, was driven by an irresistible urge akin to the compulsion to finish a captivating book. The result is a design that offers an introspective space for both the religious and the agnostic.

The Cohen stands out for its simplicity and purity of form. Stripping away the often grotesque superfluity of baroque churches, Portela sought to create a shape that encapsulates the essence of a sacred space. The design, like a book without images, leaves room for infinite interpretations, depending on the viewer's perspective.

The chapel, planned to be built in the Swiss Alps, is composed of two intersecting volumes. The main auditorium, the larger volume, gradually increases in height from the entrance to the skylight at its peak. This design invites those inside to look up, creating a sense of connection with the divine. The second volume, the sacristy, opens up to the landscape, offering a contemplative space for those responsible for the chapel.

Portela's design process was meticulous and exhaustive. The simplicity of the Cohen is not a result of subtraction but of clarification. The design took into consideration the site's configuration, from the trees and terrain's morphology to the rock bed configuration and the atmosphere of the site. The result is a symbiosis between the surroundings and the building, both created simultaneously.

The Cohen project was not without its challenges. The lack of a client, undefined terrain, non-existing budget ceiling, and base program all required a strong discipline to maintain the integrity of the initial vision. Any changes to these premises would have drastically altered the final solution. Despite these challenges, Portela's discipline and commitment to his vision resulted in an award-winning design.

In 2019, the Cohen was awarded the Golden A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award, a prestigious accolade granted to outstanding and trendsetting creations. This recognition is a testament to Portela's prodigious talent and wisdom, and his ability to advance art, science, design, and technology through his work. The Cohen, with its extraordinary excellence, is set to significantly impact the world of architecture.