Following the untimely accidental death of Gaudí in 1926, Eduardo Torroja, another Catalan architect, advanced the development of the reciprocal Nubian shell structure. Torroja redefined shell construction by applying advanced scientific principles and technological innovations.
The shell’s self-supporting reciprocal structure was abandoned in favor of the elasticity and diverse formal possibilities enabled by reinforced concrete thin shell construction.
This shift led to a proliferation of modernist-inspired concrete structures.
At the end of his career, Torroja, known for his strong faith, realized the essence of Gaudí’s vision: creating a space to house the Holy Spirit. In his minimalist construction of 1953, he achieved a synthesis of science, technology, and spirituality.
Sant Esperit Open-Air Chapel
The chapel demonstrates the transformation of the Nubian vault. This adaptation captures the essence of the church’s most sacred area, the apse. The use of reinforced concrete enables a monolithic pour, allowing the apse to achieve a smooth, elegant, and unified curved form.
Torroja lived only eight years after the chapel’s completion, yet Candela recognized the significance of his work, closely following his developments from Mexico.
Note:
Using Google SketchUp, I modeled an apse based on a church plan. The transition from plan to three-dimensional form expressed the sanctuary’s original meaning as a sacred and safe place, and, by extension, a space for human reflection.
