Angers, France

“We wanted to put ourselves in the shoes of the builders of the Middle Ages and to create a regulatory framework, using compasses, thus generating the proportions which lead to unity,” states Kengo Kuma.

Kengo Kuma has released images, showing architectural intervention, to protect the western portal of the church, containing polychromatic sculptures from the 12th and 17th-Century.

Angers Cathedral dates back to the 12th century. It is renowned for its extensive collection of stained glass windows, including the transept’s window, considered to be a masterpiece of French 13th century glasswork. 

The challenge for the studio was to create a harmonious dialogue between the contemporary intervention and the Romanesque and Gothic architecture of the church

The studio has created a regulatory framework, using compasses, to create precious proportions where the new portal has the same design language as the Romanesque portal of the west front. 

Incorporating the finest stone processes in stereotomy, the resulting descriptive geometry is refined and frees itself from the thick walls of the cathedral.

Kuma’s design intervention is only 147 square meters in size but leaves a big impact on the future of the church. 

The technical process used provides the church with a contemporary entrance archway which will help draw the visitors in, as well as prolong the life of the original structure.

Project: Réalisation d’un ouvrage de protection du portail occidental de la Cathédrale Saint-Maurice d’Angers, France
Architects: Kengo Kuma & Associates
Design Team: Chizuko Kawarada, Elise Fauquembergue, Carla Beaujard, and Hiromichi Kamiya
Heritage architects: Vincent Brunelle, Martin Brunelle
Client: Cathédrale Saint-Maurice d’Angers