Saint Catherine’s Chapel was designed for the ACF Fiorentina’s new training complex, Viola Park, located outside Florence, Italy, commissioned by club owner Rocco Commisso to restore Fiorentina’s competitive edge. The chapel fulfills a unique brief: to create a sacred space rooted in tradition while embodying modern sensibilities. Its construction presented significant technical challenges, primarily due to its unconventional organic form. Achieving smooth, continuous curves required meticulous planning and advanced parametric design tools. To ensure the accuracy of the design translated into the built form, we employed and relied on highly skilled craftspeople who could create custom formwork and framework and assemble the slabs on the curved walls. This was especially crucial considering the simplicity of the design, where any imperfection would be highly noticeable, and each component needed to fit seamlessly within the larger composition. Furthermore, integrating building systems—such as lighting, acoustics, and ventilation—without disrupting the Chapel’s pristine aesthetic was a significant challenge. These systems were carefully concealed within structural elements to preserve the purity of the design while maintaining functionality and comfort.
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