Architecture · Reggio Calabria
Multi-faith building
“La bellezza del creato”, religious complex on the Strait of Messina
Project description
The project for the “La bellezza del creato” (The beauty of creation) religious complex gives the Strait of Messina area a new liturgical, pastoral and community centre, a spiritual and civic landmark for the local community. It is part of the programme of new places of worship promoted by the Italian Bishops’ Conference, combining the needs of contemporary liturgy with the regeneration of the surrounding urban space.
The site has a landscape of extraordinary evocative power, overlooking the Strait of Messina: a geographic and cultural crossroads shaped by the constant dialogue between the sea, the Mediterranean light and the coastlines of Sicily and Calabria. The architectural concept draws on the Franciscan theme of the Canticle of the Creatures and the harmony of nature, turning the contemplation of the landscape into sculptural, luminous forms that open towards the sea and embrace the faithful.
The complex is organised around the main liturgical hall, alongside the panoramic churchyard, the pastoral rooms, catechism classrooms and parish community spaces. Advanced structural solutions, designed to the strict seismic criteria essential in the Messina area, are combined with carefully controlled overhead daylight and materials rooted in Mediterranean tradition, creating sustainable, highly energy-efficient architecture.
The project has been selected for and shown at major exhibitions of contemporary architecture.