Header: Courtesy of Mixtura
The new conventual complex in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, is an important part of the social initiative led by Fondazione Betania Onlus. This ongoing project has already established a kindergarten for 120 children from nearby favelas and aims to build a school complex that will provide education and support to over 500 children living in hard conditions.
The convent was designed by Mixtura, an architecture and landscape firm led by Cesare Querci. The firm planned to transform the classic closed cloister model into an open, dynamic space. The convent’s six autonomous buildings are arranged around five green courtyards, fostering a sense of movement while allowing natural ventilation to cool the interiors. This innovative design earned the project the BLT Award for Architectural Design in the Religious and Spiritual category in 2022.
Designing for climate and community
Salvador de Bahia’s tropical climate was crucial in shaping the convent’s design. Instead of relying on mechanical cooling systems, Mixtura used passive climate control methods.
Beyond climate considerations, the project also responds to the socio-economic challenges of the surrounding community. Since 2010, the convent has been part of a broader initiative by Fondazione Betania Onlus, and its design supports this mission by fostering an inclusive and welcoming space for prayer, hospitality, and social engagement.
Reinpretation of the classic convent
The conventual complex consists of low-tech buildings, where wood textures shape the structure and cladding, lending the architecture a distinct identity. Using local artisanal labor and traditional cooling techniques further enriches this character. Large wooden roofs, brise-soleils, permeable walls, and rotating adjustable panels work together to keep the interiors cool and comfortable.
Planimetrically, the traditional convent layout, centered around a single enclosed cloister, is reinterpreted by multiplying the cloisters and spacing out the buildings. This design allows the constant easterly winds to flow freely between the six structures that make up the complex: the refectory, church, administration, library, sacristy, and living quarters.
The use of regional materials and artisanal techniques, photovoltaic panels, and rainwater collection systems minimize the project’s environmental impact.
Innovative project for a better future
An ambitious and innovative project designed to provide the youth of Bahia’s favelas with a brighter future, one that nurtures the body, mind, and spirit while also emphasizing the pedagogical and educational value of high-quality architectural spaces. Located in the São Cristóvão neighborhood, one of Salvador’s most challenging areas, the convent serves as a refuge and a symbol of dignity. Mixtura’s architects approached the project with a deep understanding of the cultural and social landscape, designing a space that inspires a sense of belonging. Architect Cesare Querci reflects on the project’s impact:
“As architects, we strongly believe that architecture can positively change people’s lives. The convent is a project that has involved us professionally and humanly for many years. It was not only about creating a building but also about understanding the deep nature of the place where we were going to design. Salvador de Bahia is a special place, where Western culture merges with African culture, giving life to a unique cultural and religious syncretism.”
Young and passionate, the Mixtura team eagerly embraced the challenge of designing a building that reflects the Franciscan charism of its patrons, rooted in prayer and hospitality, while also addressing the demands of Salvador’s tropical climate and social context.
Project info
Project: Conventual Complex
Location: Salvador de Bahia, Brasile
Client: Fraternità Francescana di Betania
Architectural Firm: Mixtura (Maria Grazia Prencipe, Cesare Querci)
Design Team: Cesare Querci, Maria Grazia Prencipe, Guido Di Croce
Lead Architect: Cesare Querci (Mixtura AP)
Structural design: Carpinteria Estruturas de Madeira (wooden structure), Escon Estrutura e Consultoria LT (concrete structure)
Light design: Mixtura AP, Nereo De Monte
Project Year: 2022
