Polos Site Chapel

Located on the western edge of Pessegueiro Island in the Atlantic, the new chapel establishes an axis perpendicular to the existing one defined by the preserved ruins. The structure emerges through the addition of a light steel framework placed directly onto the natural terrain, responding to its contours and elevation. Approaching the island from the east, visitors arrive at the intersection of the two axes positioned at the site’s highest point. Descending along a ramp toward the entrance, they simultaneously observe the horizon of the ocean to the west and the shifting blue tones of the east reflected in the chapel’s mirrored façade.

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The contemplative character of the interior is suggested through its proportions. Visitors descend suspended steel stairs into the “sanctuary,” where a bench carved from the rock itself invites rest and reflection while framing the ocean through a narrow slit that heightens the presence of sea, wind, and salt. Perforated metal panels filter the light and emphasize the chapel’s silhouette at night, when it transforms into a subtle beacon on the island’s edge.