Atelier 66 Preserves Community Oratory in New Chapel of Saint Peter in Viana do Castelo

In Viana do Castelo, Portugal, Atelier 66 has reimagined a simple community-built oratory into the Chapel of Saint Peter. Finished in 2020, this 30-square-meter religious edifice was crafted by lead architects Maria João Patronilho and Joana Ribeiro Martins. The initiative began while the architects were developing an urban park at Praia Norte, where they were invited to design a small chapel. Although a modest glass-fronted oratory had been constructed by locals and was slated for demolition, the architects acknowledged the community's strong emotional bond to the structure and their reverence for Saint Peter, the fishermen's patron saint. This understanding led to a design that maintained the oratory's significance. Photography was provided by Hugo Casanova and João Antunes, with Susanna Moreira curating the project. The chapel's design reflects its coastal setting in northern Portugal.