Saint Catherine’s Chapel

Saint Catherine’s Chapel was created for the Fiorentina soccer team’s new training complex, Viola Park, located near Florence, Italy. The Chapel, situated beneath an artificial hill, embodies Audax’s Human Architecture philosophy, merging time-tested design principles with contemporary aesthetics to create beautiful, timeless, and sustainable design.

Inspired by the Pantheon in Rome, the Chapel’s design features an arcade leading to an oval shaped sanctum. The arcade, which mirrors the site’s natural contours, gradually reveals the Chapel, creating a processional journey. Its parametric arches increase in scale as one moves inwards, using forced perspective—a Renaissance technique used to enhance the sense of depth and grandeur.

Being underground, a central oculus serves as the primary light source, symbolizing the connection between heaven and earth. This element illuminates the space and reinforces its spiritual significance, representing the divine and human union. The use of Carrara marble, historically reserved for Italy’s most significant religious and cultural monuments, further ties the Chapel to its predecessors.

This project modernizes traditional church architecture by stripping away ornamentation, while retaining profound symbolism. It is more than a place of worship, but stands as a testament to the harmony between history and innovation, much like the city of Florence.