Church of San Giovanni Battista, Mogno, Modern mountain church in Mogno, Switzerland
The Church of San Giovanni Battista is a modern place of worship with cylindrical stone walls built on an elliptical foundation. A circular glass roof sits atop this structure, filling the interior with natural light and creating an open, bright space.
An avalanche destroyed the original chapel from the 17th century that stood on this site in 1986. Architect Mario Botta then designed this replacement church, which was completed in 1996.
The church uses local stone from nearby quarries, connecting it to how mountain communities have always built with what they find around them. These materials tie the structure to regional traditions and the landscape where it stands.
The building is designed to withstand the harsh conditions of its high mountain location. Visiting is best done when snow has melted and the access roads to the site are clear and passable.
Two granite pillars cross through the interior of the building, forming an axis that aligns with where the original church's main hall once stood. This subtle connection to the destroyed predecessor chapel creates an invisible link between past and present.
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