Grottole

réhabilitation d’une ruine en salle de concert

A MODULAR CULTURAL CENTER
Refurbishing an old church in a cultural production centre meant for us to create an interaction between the past memories of the existing ruin and the future functions of the building. In order to adapt to the several cultural uses, the stands are modular and movable by three persons. It allows to create multiple concert space organizations adapted to varied cultural displays (dancing performance, orchestra, visual arts, drama, opera, cinema, fashion show…). There are two types of stands (25 and 48 seats respectively) which feet in the chapel and in the transept when they are not used. Creating a modular cultural centre is also a way of respecting the existing ruin, by admitting that its function might change in the future, and that its design can allow it.
AN ATTRACTIVE CONCERT HALL
The modular stand design allows to create a generous concert hall which welcomes about 300 persons, transforming the Chiesa Diruta in a worldwide attractive concert hall. For such performances, the public gains access to the building by the Via de la Resistanza. The access to the performance space has been designed to create an architectural journey through the ruin. Two circulation volumes bring the spectator from the entrance to the choir of the ancient church. This choir works as a hall, directly connected to the concert space, but also to the mesmerizing panorama on the Italian hills. The circulation volumes also give access to the terraces in the upper part of the transept, to define a different space to experience the show.

A PUBLIC SPACE FOR THE CITY

The Concert Hall is designed in a way it belongs to the city most of the time. The Chiesa Diruta becomes a public space when there is no cultural events. In a largely abandoned city centre, creating a new public space allows Grottolesi to take over the space, to galvanize the city life and develop the tourist attractiveness of the city. Creating a free public space also invites citizens to define new functions and events such as city councils and meetings, marketplaces or sport events. Working on such an historical ruin meant for us to allow people to connect themselves with the memories of the building. The glazzed nave and the clear space are bringing back the ancient memories of the Church, but also reveal the history of the ruin it has become.