Church in Spain named “building of the year” at World Architecture Festival
The architecture of the church in Tenerife is inspired by the volcanic landscape of the Canary Islands.
The Catholic Church of the Most Holy Redeemer in Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Spain) received the top award at the 2025 World Architecture Festival, held in Miami.
The jury noted that the church, designed by architect Fernando Menis for the Diocese of Tenerife, has become a focal point for revitalizing the Las Chumberas district – a poor suburb of the city.
The project includes not only the church itself but also a community center with a public square. Since construction was financed exclusively through donations, it was carried out in two phases with a break of more than fifteen years.
The building features unique architecture inspired by the volcanic terrain of the Canary Islands. The competition highlights that “its massive forms contrast with the surrounding buildings, while the narrow gaps between the structures, filled with metal and glass, create a distinctive spiritual atmosphere inside.”
The church has no traditional windows – the interior is illuminated through a cross-shaped opening in the ceiling.
The jury particularly praised the building’s acoustic qualities: concrete was mixed with volcanic stones that absorb sound waves. As a result, the church achieves an acoustic level comparable to that of an opera house, making it ideal for worship services and sacred music.
In 2022, the church had already received the highest award of the International Prize for Religious Art and Architecture.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that an old church in the Netherlands was converted into a tennis court.
