Church in Seriate, Italy
1994-2004

Project 
1994/2000

Construction
2001-2004

Location
Paderno-Seriate, Bergamo, Italy

Client
Parish of  S.S. Redentore, Seriate Bergamo

Site supervision
Guglielmo Clivati, Seriate
                                   
Area
17'000 m²

Built area
2'137 m² (Church 741 m², centre 1'396 m²)

Volume
16'500 m³ off ground


The new church dedicated to Holy Pope Giovanni XIII is located close to the 17th century church of San Alessandro Martire in the suburb of Paderno-Seriate south of Bergamo . Residence built in re- cent years characterize the surrounding and borderlines of the road connecting Seriate to Bergamo . In the planning of the new building the old church defines the north-western limit of a rectangle facing the new church, while on south-east a long one storey building houses the living spaces of the parish priest and a few other rooms ending towards the countryside with  the oratory and the catechism classrooms on the first floor. The church with the squared ground floor is the center of the whole project site with a side length of 25 meters and a height of 23 meters. The bearing structure is in rein- forced concrete, the facades are clad in natural stone slabs of Stone di Verona (split slabs),while the interior walls are covered with panels of gilded wood (similar to the technique of gilded frames).The interior space offers itself as a one and only volume shaped by the lateral wall, light flows in down along the walls from the four roof skylights. The same Verona stone characterizing the buildings exterior is also used, polished, in the interior as a continuity of the whole flooring shaping the plinth of the walls and the liturgy furniture. A stone clad twin apse completes the church space and offers a sculptural work with a crucifixion scene realised within the stone size of the cladding by the Italian artist Giuliano Vangi.