herzog & de meuron has unveiled its design for switzerland?s first motorway chapel, named the ?autobahnkirche?. the project draws from the concept of medieval wayside chapels, which offer travelers a place of rest, silence, and prayer. the architects point out that the concept has already been established in neighboring countries, with 46 such churches found in germany alone. situated on the A13 motorway near andeer ? a small village in the grisons region ? the visible part of the chapel comprises four walls that appear to lean against each other.

all images © herzog & de meuron
 
 
?the project is unusual for us because neither the spatial program nor the location were clearly defined,? says jacques herzog, founding partner of herzog & de meuron. ?the idea for the chapel in andeer had to emerge from the site alone, from the location, from the road. we were looking for architecture that would sharpen the perception of visitors ? of the location, the natural environs, and even of the way they see themselves.?
 
 
from the above ground chapel, a broad, snail-shaped flight of stairs leads to an earth room conceived as a sequence of three chapels. along the funnel-shaped earth space, visitors find two other small chapels: the first for readers, with even daylight coming into the round room from above; and the second with a candle, a matte, reflecting wall, and a single skylight. finally, a last room opens to a panoramic view of the landscape, the village, an...