Norman Foster presented his Vatican pavilion project at the Venice Biennale of Architecture

For the first time in history, the Venice Biennale will host pavilions of the Holy See. Curator Francesco Dal Co conceived the concept of 10 temporary chapels, each designed by a different world architect. Foster + Partners, in collaboration with Tecno, will build one of the chapels located in a wooded area at one end of the Venetian island of San Giorgio Maggiore.

The central idea of the chapel's design was to create three symbolic crosses and a wooden deck within the landscape, covered by a tent-like membrane. Over time, the crosses transformed into a tensegrity structure of cables and struts, while the membrane evolved into a wooden lattice attached to the structure.

Norman Foster says about the chapel: "Our project began with selecting the right location. Upon visiting San Giorgio Maggiore, near the magnificent church by Palladio and the Teatro Verde theater, we found a green area with two mature trees that beautifully frame the view of the lagoon. It was like a small oasis in a large garden, perfect for contemplation. Our goal was to create a small sacred space with an interesting atmosphere of light and shadow, removed from the normality of the surrounding world, turning towards the water and the sky."

The ceremonial opening of the chapel will take place on Friday, May 25, and the pavilion will remain open to the public until November 25, 2018.