Name  Church Vistabella 
Street   
District   
Place  Vistabella 
Country  Spain 
Built  1923 
Designed  1917 
Type  church 
Condition   
Photos by  R.Saariste 
Co-operating   
Reference  Josep M.Jujol 106
J. M. Jujol by ir R. Saariste and ir V. Ligtelijn  
Description  In 1917 Mr. Mallafré saw to it that Jujol was commissioned to design a church for the village of Vistabella, with its 128 souls. Building began in 1918. And in 1924 Jujol was asked to design the adjacent rectory, of which only part was completed. The church is entirely of brick and flat rocks which are used to edge the roof, for the banisters and steps. The stones came from the surrounding countryside, and were found by farmers when they were planting their vineyards. The farmers would use them for sheds and walls. Jujol based his design on a square floor plan, the unusual detail being the upset symmetry of the entrance. The tall roof is formed by two intersecting arches. The vaults between the arches are made of hollow bricks, in order to prevent damage to the ceiling paintings from damp. There is an open belfry on top of the roof which can be reached by a staircase, which meanders over the roof. The windows in the walls are made from thin slabs of alabaster, similar to those used by Adolf Loos in the Kärntner bar. The parabolic roof, the alabaster windows and the paintings in the interior give the church a cheerful, relaxed atmosphere, which was to be aimed at in the cosmic temples of the sixties.