An exhibition in Donostia features sacred architecture through three iconic revisionist churches of Vitoria

2019 October 23

• The show “Hiru Eliza. Arquitectura Sacra Revisionista en Vitoria-Gasteiz” [Three Churches. Sacral Revisionist Architecture in Vitoria-Gasteiz], organised by the Peña Ganchegui Archive in the framework of the Mugak/ Biennial programme, can be visited until the 12th of January in the Diocesan Museum of San Sebastián.
• The exhibition includes works by architects Javier Carvajal and José María García de Paredes (Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles), Miguel Fisac (La Coronación de Nuestra Señora) and Luis Peña Ganchegui (San Francisco de Asís).
• Linked to the exhibition, the Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza, Pritzker Award winner in 1992, will dialogue with architect Carles Muro in the Kursaal Palace of San Sebastian on the 31st of October. The conversation, entitled “Três Igrejas” [Three Churches], will approach his personal vision on present religious spaces.

The Basque Country International Architecture Biennial Mugak/ (Borders, in Basque language) – which is celebrating its second edition in the three main cities of the Basque Country this year – has devoted a space to sacred architecture. More specifically, three churches will play the leading role in the exhibition “Hiru Eliza. Arquitectura Sacra Revisionista en Vitoria-Gasteiz” [Three Churches. Sacral Revisionist Architecture in Vitoria-Gasteiz], which will be open from the 12th of October to the 12th of January at the Diocesan Museum of San Sebastián.

These three iconic temples in the main city of Alava were built between 1958 and 1968 by architects Javier Carvajal and José María García de Paredes (Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles), Miguel Fisac (La Coronación de Nuestra Señora) and Luis Peña Ganchegui (San Francisco de Asís).

The exhibition will show original documentation (original drawings and photographies - some of them by Schommer-Koch) from different sources: the Fundación Fisac, the Ángela García Paredes archives, the Archives of the University of Navarre, the Municipal Archives of Vitoria, the Provincial Archives of Alava and the Peña Ganchegui Archives. The Projects IX students constructed the models shown in the exhibition under the guidance of professors Iñigo de Viar and Mario Sangalli,

The Catholic Church underwent a deep renewal process in the 20th century. It started with the so-called Liturgical Movement and culminated in the Second Vatican Council, convened by Pope John XXIII in 1959.

In a certain way, the Church recognized the transforming value of architecture and entrusted architects with the design of “austere and truthful” spaces that should help the faithful to actively participate in the liturgy and feel part of a community. Temples did not just need to be the house of God, but the house of the People of God.

Vitoria-Gasteiz grew fast after the 1950s due to a strong industrialisation process in the framework of Franco’s liberalising and developmental policies. It brought about a fast demographic growth mainly due to a substantial immigration.

Its bishop, Francisco Peralta Ballabriga, who participated in every session of the Second Vatican Council and promoted Liturgical Reform in his diocese, decided the contracts in the Diocese of Vitoria-Gasteiz.

Thus, the preconciliar churches Coronación and Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles already capture the Reform and look for movement and ascent towards the altar. They also include the contribution of sculptors and artists. The first one contains a sculpture by García Donaire while the second one has a work by Pablo Serrano. Both of them hang as if they floated.

The San Francisco church, post-conciliar, reflects the change that already came about in society and seeks to create a multi-purpose space. The project consists of a roofed square inspired by Vitoria architect Olaguíbel, in which elements are placed inside like furniture.

Álvaro Siza and his “Três Igrejas” [Three Churches]

The exhibition is related to the lecture entitled “Três Igrejas” [Three Churches] that Álvaro Siza will give at the Kursaal Palace in San Sebastian on the 31st of October at 19:00h. The Portuguese architect, who was awarded the Pritzker Prize in 1992, has been invited to participate in the Mugak/ Biennial by the Peña Ganchegui Archives.

He will chat with Carles Muro, an architecture professor at the Polytechnic University of Milan and architecture curator of the Porto Serralves Museum. They will talk about his personal vision on present religious spaces and focus on three specific places of worship: Marco de Canaveses and Barão de São João, both in Portugal, and the one in the French city of Rennes.

The dialogue was initially planned at the San Telmo Museum, but it was decided to move it to the Chamber Hall at the Kursaal Palace, with a larger capacity, due to the high ticket demand. Entrance is free of charge.

On the 14th of November and 5th of December, another two conversations will take place at the IAE. In the first one, entitled “Encargos Divinos” [Divine Contracts], Mario Sangalli, Edorta Kortadi and Jesús Mari Zabaleta will talk about the Church as a promoter. In the second one, called “Espacio y Liturgia” [Space and Liturgy], Iñigo de Viar and Lucas Viar will chat about the architectural context in Europe and Spain.

Along with the exhibition, guided tours will be offered to the three churches in Vitoria that are portrayed in “Hiru Eliza” On Saturday, the 16th and 30th of November. Departure will be at 11:00 am from the Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles parish in Vitoria. Registration is possible at archivo@ganchegui.com; spaces are limited.

“Hiru Eliza” belongs to a larger programme with exhibitions, lectures and activities that Mugak/ will offer between the 10th of October and the 12th of December. Supported by the Department of Environment, Regional Planning and Housing of the Basque Government, , the Biennial seeks to bring architecture closer to citizenry and to become a meeting point for dialogue, debate and reflection with the aim of shaping better, more balanced and fair cities. Its activities, organised by thirty partner organisations, will take place in the three main cities of the Basque Country and include exhibitions, lectures, film screenings, workshops and guided tours.