Chapelle de la Pureté Built with RICON Connectors

Completed in 2013, the Chapelle de la Pureté renovation transformed a 13th-century chapel into a modern Orthodox church. The project introduced a timber skeleton structure within the existing masonry walls, combining historic preservation with contemporary timber engineering.

The vaulted timber frame measures 17 meters in length, 4–6 meters in width, and 13 meters in height. It houses a sanctuary, baptistery, multipurpose space, and office while maintaining the historic exterior character of the chapel.

RICON and RICON S connectors were chosen for their concealed strength and ease of installation. More than 500 joints were prefabricated and test-assembled before delivery. Due to narrow streets and access restrictions, the skeleton had to be transported in small sections and assembled quickly on site. The connectors allowed precise installation and a clean finish without visible fasteners.

Key Highlights:

Connector technology: RICON and RICON S connectors secured the vaulted timber skeleton.
Construction method: Prefabricated timber elements assembled on-site within existing masonry.
Design features: Concealed connectors created a visible, unclad timber interior frame.
Performance: Over 530 joints connected, with fast installation in confined conditions.
Use case: Religious building combining historic preservation with modern structural timber design.

This project illustrates how KNAPP’s RICON systems support innovative renovations by enabling strong, concealed timber structures inside historic architecture.

Credits: Architecture by Jacques de Welle, Emmanuel de Foresta, Spiridon Kakavas, and Antonios Lionis. Structural design by Cédric Roth-Meyer, Intuition Bois. Timber construction by Bastien Milhau, Frédéric Tourneux, Matthias Pfister. Coordination by Association Restauration et Conservation de la Chapelle Bédarride and Fondation du Patrimoine. Built for Metropole Orthodoxe Grecque, Paris. Images courtesy of project partners.