Local architecture studio 51-1 Arquitectos has completed a contemporary convent in Lima, Peru, constructed with pink-tinted concrete, grey brick latticework, and layered volumes to maximise space on a tight urban site.
The project, called Religiosas de María Inmaculada, reinterprets the traditional convent for the 21st century. The 6,226-square-metre (67,000-square-foot) building occupies just a quarter-acre plot, accommodating both the Sisters of Mary Immaculate Congregation and a Young Women Shelter Home & Productive Technical Center.
Public-Facing Ground Levels
The lower two levels, which engage directly with the street, feature pink concrete walls with vertical board-form textures. A dramatic corner projects outward over an angled reflecting pool, punctuated by a carved cross. Double-height parabolic arches frame the public areas, which include workshops for sewing, baking, hairdressing, and computational design courses.
Private Spaces Above
Above, the third floor acts as an intermediary layer, housing refectories and a secluded courtyard for the nuns. The upper levels accommodate residences for the sisters and sleeping quarters for the shelter’s residents, screened behind a decorative brick lattice of circles and crosses. This brise soleil system promotes natural ventilation and privacy, eliminating the need for air conditioning in Lima’s mild climate.
Light, Air, and Greenery
A large central atrium slices through the building, bringing daylight and airflow deep inside. Planters on upper levels allow vines to cascade down pink walls, softening the concrete surfaces. The rooftop offers terraces, laundries, an orchard, and recreation areas, creating a communal outdoor space for residents.
“Given the charitable nature of the institution, every effort was made to use durable materials and minimise maintenance costs,” said 51-1 Arquitectos.
Founded in 2005, 51-1 Arquitectos has previously designed a culinary school for the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru and converted an ice factory into an arts venue in the UAE