Church in restored wood
Church in restored wood

Church in the Alpine woods. Renovation for a welcoming and meditative space

Dating back to 1954, the church of Stella, in the province of Bolzano, a spiritual place loved by tourists and locals, has been renovated by the artist Messner to give light to a space with a familiar and welcoming atmosphere

The renovation project of the Church of Stella, dating back to 1954, involved the ground floor and the restoration of the attic, which was transformed into a meditative space

Church in wood and stone

The main intervention involves the facade located to the east: the insertion of a large window makes the church that was previously dark to be flooded with light

Church in wood and stone

Moreover, the opening becomes a symbol of connection between church, world and nature which on being framed becomes an area of meditation

Church in wood and stone

By reducing the difference in height between the presbytery and the faithful area, the space becomes more unified, like a landscape shaped and the spatial separation less important.  The wooden ceiling cladding reflects the joints of the floor, evoking traces and paths of a landscape

Church in wood and stone

The artist Peter Fellin is responsible for the stained glass windows

Church in wood and stone

The artist Franz Messner has designed the sacral area: the altar is located in the central axis of the presbytery

Church in wood and stone

The stone monoliths, with their glazed base, seem to be weightless

Church in wood and stone

The attic, which has become a meditative space has a new spiral staircase: similar to a nest, it is characterized by a carpet in the floor, by wooden panels in the upper part

Church in wood and stone

The sacred space is filled with peace and lightness, the attic with liveliness

Church in wood and stone

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