Image via Complex Original
On Saturday, December 23, 1972, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake hit the capital city of Managua, Nicaragua, and destroyed over 90 percent of the buildings. Among the many national treasures that were destroyed was the Catedral de Santiago. Although it is still standing, it was deemed unrestorable and plans for a new central cathedral were made. Finally in 1991, construction for the new cathedral began. It would be called Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
Ricardo Vilchis
Designed by the Mexican architect Ricardo Vilchis, the new Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is the complete opposite of the former Baroque-styled building. Formed by aggregations of simple geometries, and built in monolithic concrete, this new cathedral attracted much controversy for its design. The 66 cupolas are said to reference the local parishes in Nicaragua; locals refer to them as La Chichona (look it up).
Nontraditional Forms
In recognition of the changes in the structure of the service in the contemporary Catholic community, the building reorganizes some of the principle features of the cathedral. The highest dome is located in the center, above the assembly and not the altar. Also, the side chapel is designed to be open and light to enliven the daily mass. And the cascading telescopic geometry that surrounds the main entrance also serves as a backdrop for the annual service led by the cardinal.
Under the Dome
Under a single dome in the side chapel is the major crucifix, with corpus, itself housed in a protective glass dome. The concrete walls of this cylindrical chapel are pierced with a spiraling array of tiny circular windows that lend a star-like quality to the interior lighting.
Surviving the Quake
However, the main reason for the austere concrete finish has more to do with pragmatics than either modern minimalist architecture or even evocative spiritual references. Since the building is located only five miles above a fault line, structural integrity is a major concern. The odd juxtaposition of the domes make the building more resistant to earthquakes. Hopefully it’ll be able to survive the next big quake that is, by some estimates, ready to hit any day now.