Mathias Goeritz, Capilla abierta, Parque de las Estrellas, Jardines del Bosque
1957-1958
In
the garden known as Parque de las Estrellas, Mathias Goeritz created
the Open Chapel, a project where he once again brought together the
ideals of spirituality and architecture. He conceived the idea of a
space of visual contemplation connected to metaphysics, a space that
was at once contained, container, and open. Bounded by four walls
approximately seven meters in height that are not joined at the
corners, visitors could enter from any of the four sides. Inside, in
the center, the void is complete , an absence of all and presence of
nothing, only the tectonics of the materials where the roof is
replaced by the sky, as the fifth facade. This work displays the
spiritual aims of Goeritz: entering into the sacred enclosure , the
view is drawn upwards, towards creation, a tangible emotion, and
isolation form the outside world. Unfortunately these intentions
were lost altogether when the chapel was renovated. Architecture and
ideals alike were radically transformed, and it is currently a civil
registry office.
Text
by Christian del Castillo, David Miranda
