The Holy Redeemer Church by Fernando Menis – © Simona Rota.
Architecture. The Holy Redeemer Church and the Las Chumberas Community Centre, by Spanish architect Fernando Menis, rise from the landscape as a compound of monolithic volumes. The project is located in a 1970s socially vulnerable no-man’s land between the main cities of La Laguna and Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Conceived as a catalyst for social and urban renewal, the compound gathers a church, a parish centre, and a green-edged public square.
- RELATED STORIES: Discover more holy architecture and design on Archipanic.
© Roland Halbe.
“We wanted to create a place where there was none, giving the neighbourhood its own identity and serving as a reference space in a confusing urban fabric,” explains Fernando Menis. From outside, the rough texture of the exposed concrete contrasts sharply with the conventional residential context. “It’s as if a geological phenomenon had occurred, with nature challenging banality.” Inside, daylight and concrete work together to produce an atmosphere of quiet introspection.
© Hisao Suzuki.
The church has no conventional windows. Light enters through narrow fractures between the volumes, where sculptural metal and glass inserts filter the sun with precision. An unglazed cross and a series of zenithal openings guide the daylight, shifting gently through the day to reveal different corners and textures. The result is a minimalist, spiritual environment shaped entirely by light and shadow.
© Hisao Suzuki.
Concrete defines almost every aspect of the architecture. Its versatility allows it to become structure, surface, texture, and acoustic device. Locally produced and inexpensive, it offers durability and energy efficiency, while the thick walls boost thermal inertia.
© Hisao Suzuki.
For the acoustics, Menis developed an inventive mix of chipped concrete and volcanic stones that absorbs sound with remarkable finesse. Combined with areas of smooth or rough exposed concrete, this system achieves acoustic control comparable to that of an opera house—ideal for spoken word, music, and community gatherings.
© Patri Campora.
The project behind The Holy Redeemer Church also reflects a story of collective effort. Built with donations from parishioners and local organisations, the construction advanced in phases dictated by the ebb and flow of funding. Two of the four volumes, which house the Parish Centre, were completed in 2008 and have been in use ever since, while resources for the remaining structures continued to grow.
© Hisao Suzuki.
The international recognition that followed confirmed its impact. Fernando Menis received the World Building of the Year Award at the World Architecture Festival. “The building manages to masterfully accommodate the symbolic and everyday needs of the community of which the architect is a part,” noted Paul Finch, WAF Programme Director.
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© Hisao Suzuki.
© Fernando Menis.
In the end, The Holy Redeemer Church stands as a thoughtful model of architecture rooted in place, purpose, and community spirit—an approach that continues to resonate far beyond Tenerife.
© Fernando Menis.
