"Picture a building so raw and honest that it looks like it grew straight from the ground. That's exactly what Fernando Menis pulled off with the Holy Redeemer Church and Community Centre of Las Chumberas in Tenerife, and the architecture world just named it the 2025 World Building of the Year at the World Architecture Festival. Located on the outskirts of La Laguna, Spain, this isn't your typical church."
"What makes this project so special is the story behind its construction. The entire building was funded through small donations from local parishioners. Think about that for a second. No giant corporate sponsor, no massive government grant. Just regular people contributing what they could, when they could. That stop and start flow of money directly shaped how the building came to life, creating an irregular development timeline that actually influenced the final design."
"Let's talk about the aesthetics because they're striking. Menis went full minimalist with exposed concrete that feels almost primal. The texture is rugged and unpolished, which gives it this organic quality that you don't often see in contemporary religious architecture. There's no fancy facade trying to impress you. Instead, the material itself becomes the statement. The concrete isn't just slapped on either. Look closely and you"
The Holy Redeemer Church and Community Centre of Las Chumberas sits on the outskirts of La Laguna, Tenerife. Fernando Menis designed a multifunctional complex that won the 2025 World Building of the Year at the World Architecture Festival. The entire project was financed through small donations from local parishioners, creating an irregular, phased construction process that influenced the architecture. Four independent sculptural volumes were built in stages and accommodate a church, a community centre, and a public square. The aesthetic emphasizes exposed, rugged concrete with an organic quality, and the complex functions as a flexible neighbourhood hub.
Read at Yanko Design - Modern Industrial Design News
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