Santa Maria Josefa Church

Abstract

The church stands in a new suburb a fair distance south of the centre of Rome, though not far from the Via Prenestina, one of the ancient Roman roads. It is bordered by a planned and approved suburb to the west and a spontaneous suburb to the east. On the slightly sloping site, about 80 by 80 metres overall, a complex of two interlocking buildings has been built. Form, size and colour have been used to clearly denote the function and hierarchy of each building. The auxiliary building has a double-hooked shape, with a long central section and two shorter elements at each end; the main building is box-shaped with a curving roof. The auxiliary building is low and is rendered a deep red colour; the main building - the church hall and bell tower - is high and clad with rough matt-shimmering panels of brownish travertine that are reminiscent of dark onyx. The ensemble of volumes is carefully composed and balanced throughout. Strong gestures greet visitors coming from either direction: with a projecting chapel on the northwest side and a cantilevered auditorium to the southeast.