Convento, teologado e iglesia de San Pedro Mártir de los Padres Dominicos [St. Peter Martyr Church and Theological Center of the Dominican Fathers]
Original name
Convento, teologado e iglesia de San Pedro Mártir de los Padres Dominicos [St. Peter Martyr Church and Theological Center of the Dominican Fathers]
Original use
Religious/centre of worship/convent/religious centre
Current use
Religious/centre of worship/convent/religious centre
Architects
Miguel Fisac Serna
Artists
Pablo Serrano, Susana Polack (sculptors), Adolf Winterlinch, José María de Labra (painters)
Concrete by reinforcement
Concrete is a relatively brittle material that is strong in compression but less so in tension.
To increase its overall strength, steel rods, wires, mesh or cables may be embedded in concrete before it sets. This reinforcement, often known as rebar, resists tensile forces. By forming a strong bond, the two materials are able to resist a variety of applied forces, effectively acting as a single structural element .
Construction method
In this case, the concrete can be made by mixing the components directly on site, or it may be transported from a production plant in concrete-mixer trucks.
This method has the disadvantage of leaving the concrete exposed to the elements while it is setting. Whereas, with other methods, the environmental conditions can be controlled during setting, providing greater control over the outcome, with cast-in-place concrete a series of tests and protocols are necessary to verify its final strength.
Architectural concrete
- textured walls
- wooden formwork finish
- stamped concrete
- exposed aggregate concrete, colored concrete, etc.
Structural types
Beams are the horizontal load-bearing elements of the frame. Columns are the vertical elements of the frame and act as the building’s primary load-bearing element. They transmit the beam loads down to the foundations.
State of Conservation
Description
This religious complex is located on one of the main access roads leading into Madrid. Immersed in a peri-urban and disconnected landscape, it is the imposing bell tower – in white concrete filigree – that situates the building in its urban surroundings, serving as a landmark and a visual reference point.
The central element is the church, with a peculiar form that responds to a reflection on religion (Fisac was very religious) and how it translates into the liturgical space: with a floor plan in the shape of an asymmetrical hyperbola, the altar is located in the narrowest central area, separating and totally isolating the conventual community from the worshipers. The architecture of the church is simple and restrained. In the interior, it is worth remarking the thoughtful treatment of natural light, which translates into a chromatic explosion due to the stained-glass windows. The views of the slender curved brick walls are uninterrupted by structural elements. The walls qualify the interior space as they are bathed by the light coming through the stained glass. On the outside, in contrast, the brick façade reveals the structure of white concrete pillars that support the roof.
The segregation of users – clearly expressed by the floor plan of the church – is the key to understanding the arrangement of the rest of the program: a series of long rectangular volumes, characterized by horizontal lines and a broadly spaced layout amid the extensive gardens. These blocks either sit on the ground or create porches on the ground floors; other times these porches – with a delicate structure in white concrete – are completely separated from the building and function like convent cloisters. On a whole, these paths organize the different circulation flows: monks, students, teachers or visitors.
Spain
Avenida de Burgos, km 7,000-7,300
Madrid 28050 Madrid
Commission
1955
Completion
1960