Saint Gianna Chapel, Biatorbágy

Architects: Miklós Dormán, Bálint Rigó
Text: Sándor Csontó
Photos: Miklós Dormán

The place of prayer in Biatorbágy, on Katalin Hill, is an eco-scientific building set in a rich natural environment, made of natural materials, a creation of human hands and spirit, which smoothly blends into the landscape. It radiates a perfect balance, a true harmony between the built and natural environment. The building materials and tools were available, but in the absence of a construction plan, the community of builders was driven by a collective awareness of the situation and a collective reflection on the practical design. The architects, Bálint Rigó and Miklós Dormán supported the project with their professional knowledge: they modelled the construction process in the field, in non-stop consultation with the builder. The tilted abutments follow the golden section principle: the columns form 72 degrees to the horizontal plane, the top of the nave is set at an angle of 30 degrees, so that at the spine it is 120 degrees, which forms parts of the regular hexagon. The planking of the ceiling, with its alternating palette of raw red and pine, evokes classical Romanesque prototypes. The sanctuary is placed under the tower with glazed walls, letting natural light bathe the altar during morning liturgies, and in the afternoon the double barn door windows provide enough light. A more welcoming gesture is reinforced by the fact that the bell has been moved from the tower to the entrance. The clean, functional structure of the sacred space makes it an ideal place for communal worship.

Architects: Miklós Dormán, Bálint Rigó
Client, builder and leader of the building community: Károly Varga