{"id":6279,"date":"2024-09-26T11:57:23","date_gmt":"2024-09-26T09:57:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.chapelle-sainte-rita.com\/architectural-design\/"},"modified":"2024-12-21T11:50:55","modified_gmt":"2024-12-21T10:50:55","slug":"architectural-design","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.chapelle-sainte-rita.com\/en\/architectural-design\/","title":{"rendered":"Architectural design"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Architectural design<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Explanation by architect Jean JOLIVEL<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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House of God<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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It is first and foremost the House of God, but it is also the House of people in adoration.
To design this work, I evoked some of the traditions of Christian church building.
I made reference to Saint Rita and the great moments of her life dedicated to the Love of God.
I inscribed some of the symbols used for centuries by the builders of churches and cathedrals.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Its place
in the site<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Its location is privileged within the property and the city.
The building is built in continuity with existing buildings, symbolizing the blossoming of this area.
The architectural expression is marked by a religious character that is easily perceived by everyone.
The composition is expressive, yet modest and peaceful in this quiet, meditative neighborhood.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Its planforms<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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The nave is a square multiple of 5: three times 5 on each side (The nave is a square measuring 15m by 15m, built on a “grid” of 9 squares measuring 5 by 5m. This grid is not visible on the ground, but served as the basis for the entire design).<\/p>\n

The square and double-square dimensions so dear to the Bible are found in many Romanesque churches.
In the Old Testament, the temple and sanctuary are built on square bases.
This is the place of the Divine Presence.
Many Cistercian churches are built on a succession of squares.
The number 5 is the symbol of man in many ancient civilizations.
Saint Hildegard developed the theory of this symbol in Judeo-Christian history.
Here, the nave is made up of 9 squares of 5 by 5.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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This gives us<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

The square representing the House of God
The number 5 symbolizing Man.
Man in the House of God.<\/p>\n

Surrounding the square on its sides are the choir, the two wings and the narthex.
These five elements thus form the sign of the Cross, a fundamental symbol identifying with CHRIST.
Saint Bonaventure says: “The Cross is a tree of beauty, sacred by the blood of CHRIST. The Cross is a tree of beauty, sacred by the blood of CHRIST, it is full of all fruits<\/em><\/strong> “.<\/p>\n

Moreover, evoking one of the miracles of Saint Rita’s life, this cruciform base opens out in the shape of a rose.
The successive arches of each wing draw the petals of the flower, with the semi-circular choir as the receptacle.<\/p>\n

Some fervent souls also saw the shape of the bee, recalling the miracle of the bees around Saint Rita, still a baby in the cradle. (It’s worth noting that Father Andrea Bianco, who initiated devotion to Saint Rita in Nice, predicted to an assembly of seminarians in 1947: “One day we’ll build a beautiful chapel to Saint Rita in Paris, and it will be shaped like a bee”. <\/em><\/strong>The architect only learned this after building the chapel…)). <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Its elevated shapes<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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The volumetry is animated by an upward movement: internally towards the choir, externally towards the cross.
The elevation of the gaze obviously symbolizes the elevation of the soul towards its GOD.
The choir is formed by a flat arch and opens onto the congregation through a vertical arch.
The bow symbolizes the halo…the halo, sign of sanctity.
Here, it is a privileged marker: the sacred place, the place of Sacrifice.
Among the symbolic shapes, the light-giving bays stand out.
The stylized arrow in its ascending form crowns each stained-glass window.
This arrow is the symbol of exchanges between Heaven and Earth.
The symbolic content of each stained-glass window is thus projected towards Heaven, as our prayer rises towards God.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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The light<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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According to Saint John, light is identified with the Word, the second person of the Trinity. Light proceeding from Light.
Here, sunlight is captured in its various component colors: <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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