2004 - Padre Pio Pilgrilmage Church, S. Giovanni Rotondo (I)

The church was designed to receive the increasing number of pilgrim visiting San Giovanni Rotondo.
Though only 16 metres high, the church has a capacity of 6.500 people. The wide external precinct can hold around 30.000 people on a surface of 9.000 square metres.
The structure designs a spiral-shaped movement: the dome sweeps down from the centre towards the precinct in a gesture of welcoming invitation.
The technical challenge of the project lies in the use of local stone as structural material. In fact, the building contains about twenty stone arches arranged in radial fashion holding up the vast roof.

Client
Ordine Frati Cappuccini


Project team

architectural project:
Renzo Piano Building Workshop,Genova (I)

executive design:
Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Genova (I) with Eduard Mijic as a part of the team

site management for roof structure:
Eduard Mijic for MERK Holzbau

structural project:
ARUP, London (UK) with Favero & Milan Ingegneria, Venezia (I)

planting:
Manens Intertecnica, Verona (I)

total surface:
35.000 m²

cost:
103.286.000 €