San Paolo VI parish complex gives a clear physiognomy and a new urban polarity to Alba Adriatica

The project of the new parish complex in Alba Adriatica (Italy) aims to give a clear physiognomy and a new urban polarity to a suburb that has grown very rapidly in recent decades. The complex thus fits into the new city center as a missing card, through a sophisticated integration between the emerging values of the urban landscape and the organization of the urban grid. The complex, also thanks to its barycentric position, thus becomes an important reference for the entire city. The compositional layout of the church is inspired by the geometric figure of the circle. The interior of the sacred building is volumetrically defined by the interpenetration of two cylinders whose projection on the ground generates two concentric circles. The innermost circle contains the hall, with the benches arranged converging towards the presbytery, and is marked at the edges by the presence of eight large columns capable of emphasizing the vertical dimension and supporting the drum, consisting of vertical lamellae, which, as a second suspended cylindrical curtain defines a sort of ascending path. The outer circle outlines the ambulatory, a connecting space for all the liturgical fires that follow one another in the circular path. The main "eminential" places dedicated to worship: the presbytery, the Eucharistic custody and the baptismal font, are illuminated by skylights and placed in special spaces that penetrate the geometry of the circle, generating chapels capable of guiding the faithful with certainty on the path of conversion. The presence, moreover, of symbolic elements typical of the tradition, contributes to further enhance the sacred image of the place: the large cross, inserted on the facade of the church, to mark the space and attract the interest and the eye, the high bell tower , to indicate, as a lighthouse, the landing to be reached, the external water fountain near the baptistery, a symbol of purification and life. The layout of the parish complex, given the extreme geometric regularity of the lot, is built on the basis of a mesh that assumes the position of the context. The parallelepiped volumes that house the other functions of the parish center contrast with the circular shape of the hall, with a syntax of elementary forms capable of giving meaning to a clearly intelligible architectural ensemble. The project arranges all the parish environments intended for educational, cultural and recreational activities, along two of the four border sides of the lot, placed in direct relationship with the access roads, in such a way as to orient them also physically towards the community, towards the which will be put into service. The sacred building is set back from the street front in order to create on the one hand, along the Via Olimpica, a green area with tall trees that act as a filter area and reception space for the entire city community. and on the other, between the connecting road of the two via Olimpica and Gorizia, a large public space, intended to house the churchyard. This location of the church enhances the perspective and three-dimensionality, enhancing the architectural perception. The parish complex is basically divided into three architectural nuclei (church body with rectory and sacristy rooms, pastoral ministry rooms, parish hall), formally recognizable and distinct for functions, mission and urban vocation, easily accessible and devoid of any architectural barrier and accessible to all those who experience any disability. The succession of solids and voids is connected by a connective tissue, consisting of a long portico that extends along the entire perimeter of the area. The set of these elements is conceived as a foundation enclosure capable of underlining in a sacred sense the space that contains and envelops the complex, which thus assumes a monastic type composition with a central cloister. In the parish hall, the internal space is made flexible through the installation of sliding panels capable of simultaneously creating multiple configurations of use for religious, social, recreational and cultural initiatives and there is a cloister lined with trees in visual communication with the outside. The block of the pastoral ministry rooms houses 6 rooms of various sizes suitable for both autonomous and group activities and which can be joined, if necessary, for meetings to be held with several participants. You then enter a large courtyard, called Piazza San Paolo VI, capable of hosting both religious and recreational-cultural events. Continuing on the right you will find a compact building block intended for the sacristy and the rectory, located in a private and autonomous place. Arriving near the sacred building, you will find the large churchyard, which is partly covered by a large canopy that is detached from the church facade. The route ends at Via Olimpica, a true urban square, a filter and connection area between the two areas (religious and public), organized with a green screening system with tall trees planted in special flower boxes / benches and a body of water at the nearby baptistery. The design proposal favors the use of a series of passive systems, technological solutions and construction measures capable of generating widespread environmental well-being and a management cost that is minimized compared to the usual ones. The use of natural lighting was privileged for all environments. The plants will be equipped with "intelligent" control systems with remote programming for their management and maintenance.