Atlantida Church

The so often overseen Atlantida church is an architectural and engineering jewel.

Eladio Dieste : I had never heard of this person before, but my research about the „Church of Atlantida“ brought up this information. Dieste was an Uruguayan engineer and architect, won several prizes, was Professor at the University of Montevideo – and was father of 11 (eleven) children. UNESCO called him as professor for several universities in South America.

Eladio Dieste (Artigas, December 10, 1917 – Montevideo, July 29, 2000).

Eladio Dieste made his reputation by building a range of structures from grain silos, factory sheds, markets and churches, all in Uruguay and all of exceptional elegance. A particular innovation was his Gaussian vault, a thin-shell structure for roofs in single-thickness brick, that derives its stiffness and strength from a double curvature catenary arch form that resists buckling failure.

 
Opened in 1985, „Montevideo Shopping“ is the first Shopping Mall in Montevideo,
located next to the World Trade Center.

There were several architects in South and Latin America who were working in the modernist idiom, but Dieste, was one of the few to bring architecture and structural engineering into close proximity, especially in the service of sometimes humble commissions. His buildings were mostly roofed with thin shell vaults constructed of brick and ceramic tiles. These forms were cheaper than reinforced concrete, and didn’t require ribs and beams.

Homage on Eladio Dieste, roof of an old gas station, a monument in Salto.
Oficially called „gate of wisdom“ . Locals just call it „La Gaviota“, the seagull.

Old Salto bus terminal from 1974.

Gaussian vaults, meaning double curves. Dieste’s vaults were only 130mm thick, and the vaults spanned 50m, an astounding relationship using bricks and mortar and not achievable using heavy concrete. In developing this approach, even in comparison with modernists the world over, he was an innovator. One of the great innovators of Uruguay and well known and honored in the whole world. Dieste built also different objects in other countries. A big market place in Porto Alegre, Brazil or a church in Henarez, Spain.

Impressive market hall, Porto Alegre,Brazil 1972.    „St. John of Avila“ church in Alcala de Henarez, Spain.

Iglesia de San Pedro, Durazno. Dieste took the task of rebuilding this 150 year old church that had been
damaged by a fire, only facade and original floor remained.  He designed this „simple“ brick structure
behind the remaining facade.  An eclectic addition of the 20th century to the original colonial one.

The most well known and earliest of his works is the „Atlantida Church“. Some people call
it a converted warehouse, but if one looks at the details of construction, then you’ll see
it, at a piece of architectural and engineering art, just around the corner. This hyperbolic
brick work is the „Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes“ from 1958.
The Church of „Christ the Worker“. Located in Estacion Atlantida, suburb Atlantida North.

 
Fantastic Atlantida church of „Christ the worker“ with the clock tower and rounded brick work.

Inside images, notice the waved walls and ceiling as well as the natural lighting.

 
Inside the clock tower. Who want’s to climb up without banisters ?
Outside an altar for „Nuestra Señora de Lourdes“

   
Just a few kilometers from Atlantida, another Dieste work, reinforced brick.
The water tower of Las Vegas, favored meeting point for the local community.
Build in the 60’s, capacity 120 cubic meters, height 27 meters.
Over 120.000 kilogram resting on about 60 bricks !!!

I hope you will recognize the wonderful work of Dieste in the future, like
I do. His work is all over Uruguay.