The project began with a 2018 competition for a new church. Although our design won, strong emotional resistance from the community led to its cancellation. Years of urban changes had fragmented the site, and the remaining church building—poorly positioned and structurally unsafe—could no longer support future use. In 2020, a new partnership with the adjacent school reopened the dialogue. Starting from scratch, we developed a shared concept addressing both sacred and educational needs. The design process became one of careful mediation—balancing memory with function, tradition with change. Many feared that rebuilding meant forgetting. Through recovered materials, flexible spaces, and architectural restraint, the project honors the site’s legacy while creating something new. People who once opposed the project are happy with the result. The school is full, the church active, and the building has become the heart of the community—alive every day with learning, faith, and connection.
