The Catholic Church has proclaimed this year a Jubilee Year of Mercy, and the faithful are invited to make a pilgrimage to particular shrines around the world, many of them hosting a Holy Door. In London, the Cardinal has designated a number of parishes where indulgence may be gained by passing through the Holy Door. My project intends to use this opportunity request sponsorship from the Cardinal’s fund for creating a pilgrim chapel which would travel throughout the year to highlight the London churches designated with a Holy Door. Not only will this chapel be a place of prayer, it will also be a space for reconciliation. When the Missionaries of Mercy will be sent out during the season of Lent to the Diocese of Westminster, the chapel will also be used for confession. 

The chapel is meant to have a strong relationship with the door of the church by resembling the geometry of the rose windows usually found above the entrance to a sacred place. The configuration with eight petals was chosen for its pleasing symmetry, and because of the geometry it creates when tessellated: a Greek cross. Each ‘flower’ of the canopy can expand and contract depending on the movement around it. The movement is not necessarily synchronised for all component parts which gives the design a fluid and constantly changing appearance. 

The canopy is formed by two layers of expandable geometries to give added rigidity and privacy. The two layers are spaced apart by metal rods fixed key nodes of the two layers. The canopy is fixed to the rectangular base by metal bolts, at the four corners. Also attached to the base are the two confessionals, the kneeler and the cross, symbol of mercy and forgiveness. 

The entrance to the chapel is marked by a shallow step and is facing east. The cross with the kneeler are facing west. There is also a gradation in the density of the elements of the canopy as one travels towards the cross. The first space is the most private and this is where confessions take place. The second space has a transitional role and is meant to be semi- private while the space around the cross is flooded with light. It is noted that the area designated for confession is much less private compared to the traditional confessional. Yet this ‘private openness’ can be an encouraging feature for those who have avoided the sacrament for a long time, providing a friendly and positive environment. 

The Pilgrim Chapel is intended to be a space of light, peace and reconciliation, where visitors of all faiths and none can experience tranquillity. Light plays an important role in the experience of the chapel as it creates intricate shadow patterns.