ArchStacks
Project

Church of Saint Michael the Archangel, Geneto

- San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain

Restoration and extension of an 18th-century hermitage, blending history with contemporary liturgical needs.

Exterior view of a small white church with a bell tower and red-tiled roof next to a road.

A small white church with a bell tower and a cross on top, featuring a red-tiled roof. The church is situated next to a road, with bollards lining the sidewalk. The sky is clear with a few clouds.

Story

Church of Saint Michael the Archangel, Geneto

Restoration and extension of an 18th-century hermitage

The Church of Saint Michael the Archangel in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife, represents a sensitive architectural intervention that respects its historical roots while addressing modern liturgical requirements. The project involved the meticulous restoration of an 18th-century hermitage and the addition of a new nave. This dual approach ensures the preservation of the site's historical identity while introducing contemporary functionality.

The original hermitage, a significant example of rural religious architecture in the Canary Islands, was restored with minimal intervention. Traditional techniques were employed to recover its Mudéjar timber roof, and 20th-century modifications were removed to restore its typological clarity. The new extension is distinct yet harmonious, characterized by a continuous white envelope that respects the scale and prominence of the historic structure.

Design Highlights

  • Restoration: Minimal intervention approach to preserve the hermitage's historical integrity.

  • Extension: A new nave that complements rather than competes with the original structure.

  • Materiality: Reuse of materials from a demolished concrete wall, integrating them into liturgical elements.

  • Light: A large skylight over the presbytery emphasizes natural light as a primary spatial element.

  • Spatial Transition: A deambulatory acts as a temporal and spatial threshold between old and new.

Key Facts

Location San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife
Architect Alejandro Beautell
Original Construction 18th Century
Restoration & Extension Contemporary

The project stands as a testament to the seamless integration of contemporary architecture within a historical context, ensuring continuity over time without compromising the site's heritage.

Technical summary

Updated 2/3/2026

Finishes

  • Wall Finish: White plaster finish on the new extension.
  • Ceiling Finish: Wooden coffered ceiling with intricate geometric patterns.

Materials

  • Wood — Ceiling, benches, doors, and other interior elements.
  • Concrete — Altar, ambo, baptismal font, and structural elements.
  • Stone — Flooring and bench supports.

Construction / Systems

  • Structural System: The new extension is constructed with a continuous white envelope and a skylight over the presbytery.

Products

  • Not specified

Palette / Lighting

  • Colors: white, wood tones, stone gray
  • Lighting: Natural light through skylight

Images

Exterior view of a small white church with a bell tower and red-tiled roof next to a road.
White church with red-tiled roof and bell tower, featuring a single arched window and adjacent wooden gate.
Church exterior with a white bell tower and a rust-colored metal gate.
Exterior of a church with white walls, a wooden door, a bell tower with a cross, and terracotta roof tiles.
Modern church extension with white facade next to traditional building with tiled roof.
Minimalist building exterior with white facade and wooden door.
Exterior of the Church of Saint Michael the Archangel featuring a white wall, wooden door, and concrete sign with text.
Exterior view with a white wall and a large rust-colored metal door, light tile paving, and a traditional tiled roof.
Exterior view of a building with a large wooden door in a white wall, clear blue sky, and partial tiled roof.
Close-up of a wooden door in a white wall with a gray stone base and a shadow.
Exterior view of a building featuring a large wooden pivot door in a white wall.
Close-up of a wooden door partially open against a white wall with a shadow and stone tile floor.
Close-up of a building corner with a concrete block and rusty metal element.
Minimalist outdoor area featuring a concrete wall, wooden slatted door, and stone bench.
Minimalist courtyard with concrete walls, cross cutout, wooden door, and tiled floor.
Concrete wall featuring a cross-shaped cutout.
Interior room with wooden ceiling, stone floor, bench, and doorway.
Minimalist wooden bench with stone supports against a white wall.
Minimalist bench with wooden seat and backrest supported by stone blocks against a plain wall.
Interior room with wooden ceiling, white walls, and a bench.
Minimalist church interior with a skylight, altar, and wooden elements.
Minimalist church interior with stone benches and an altar.
Wooden bench with stone base in a church interior, minimalist crosses on the wall.
Close-up of a wooden bench supported by a stone block.
Close-up of a wooden bench with a stone base in a minimalist interior.
Minimalist interior with a wooden bench and stone pedestal, light walls, and a small cross.
Wooden lectern on a concrete base in an interior setting.
Minimalist church interior with concrete altar, textured wall, and skylight.
Interior view of a church with a concrete altar, wooden elements, and a skylight providing natural light.
Minimalist interior with textured wall, wooden cross, niche with 'IHS', small wooden chair, and wooden door.
Rebar cross on a textured concrete wall.
Interior of a church with a textured wall, wooden cross, small wooden door, and a wooden chair.
Interior of a minimalist church featuring wooden benches and a concrete altar.
Wooden coffered ceiling with geometric patterns.
Line drawing of a church facade featuring a bell tower and cross.
Elevation drawing of a church with a pitched roof and bell tower.
Floor plan of a church with seating and additional rooms.
Floor plan of a building with a rectangular layout and a pitched roof section.
Architectural section drawing of a church interior with seating and structural elements.
Section drawing of a church with two connected buildings and pitched roofs, showing interior seating and a cross.
Isometric drawing of a church complex with a historic building and modern extension.

Similar projects

More by tags ->

Projects by the architect

View Alejandro Beautell ->
No other projects found for this architect yet.