The Saint-Nicolas Church by Walter Maria Förderer in Hérémence, Switzerland is peak ecclesiastical concrete. The locale, the scale, the cubism, the detail, and the sheer mass is delightfully daunting and awe inspiring. Built between 1968 and 1971, this ceremony of cement replaced an older church damaged by the 1946 earthquake. This replacement is so solid it could withstand both an earthquake and judgment day.
Built into the hillside, the sanctuary becomes part of the mountain itself. And, in a way, it is, having been built with locally sourced concrete and wood, the latter adding hearthy warmth to the interior and providing the board-forms on the interior and interior. The light grey of the concrete evokes the snow, in the distance when we visited but one with the church in the winter.
The complex of concrete dominates this town of 1,500, but in a serene way. As it so happens, there are 1,500 seats in the church. Gloriously, the church was open for viewing and walking nearly every spot. Perhaps the gates aren't pearly after all; maybe they are made of concrete.
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