ST JACOB’S CHAPEL

The small votive chapel dedicated to Saint Jakob is situated in the Bavarian countryside south of Munich, in a private property located along one of the ways across Europe to the sanctuary of Santiago di Compostela at a distance of 2347 km, in north west Spain. The building takes up the measurements (5 x 3 metres) of the numerous religious shrines to be found in the surrounding district of Fischbachau. The interior is empty, and the object of contemplation is situated outside the park. A staircase leads to a wooden bench placed in front of a round window that frames the horizon and a cross erected on the edge of the lawn opposite. The seating, a font in marble and a wooden candle-holder shelf comprise the only furniture. The construction is in a stone known to the locals as “God’s concrete”. The roof, doors and windows are in copper and wood.

Architect Michele De Lucchi is often called the “Poet of Architecture”, both for his subtle, aesthetic sensitivity and the constant research of an intimate, artisan perspective on his projects. All of these elements can be clearly found in this tiny chapel at Auerberg, outside the village of Fischbachau in Bavaria. A project born by the desire of the owners to transform one of De Lucchi’s highly acclaimed wooden sculptures into reality.

Starting from this architectural premise, Capoferri assisted the architect in scaling a small, abstract object into a place for prayer and contemplation. Capoferri engineered, built and installed the wooden roof structure clad with brass, the impressive entrance vestibule made from solid blackened brass, and windows with unique sun breaking inserts made from reclaimed oak retrieved directly by the architect. Though small, the project proved to be complex in finding the right equilibrium between the different materials as envisioned by the architect. A perfect challenge for the Capoferri Contract Division.