Chiesa Diruta | The Fallen Church
Re-Use Competition
authors:
Julita Banaszak & Jerzy Sroka
Prolog
Just as in the past the church was the heart of the town, the stage is also the heart of the theatre. The sacred place for both of those bodies. The walls, due to their sublimity, should remain as intact as possible. To emphasize the value of the ruins, the new building should be simple and easily adaptable to various functions. Therefore the new building has a retractable roof and a wall which allows opening the whole structure to the rest of the church enabling a variety of configurations. The main block should be light and give the impression of levitating in the middle of ancient stone walls. At the same time, the new building cannot be closed, to give the impression of being open and friendly to residents so that it becomes the centre of Grottole again. The Chiesa Diruta will be the reference point and a strong attraction for everyone residents and tourists.
Act I
The church itself is like a spectacle and the new object should be the stage for it, so it cannot outshine the existing debris, it should remain in the shadow and act as a proscenium.
Act II
The main block’s shell houses a wooden playhouse structure that works as an audience, exhibition balcony or additional space for users. Due to various possible configurations, there are thrust stage, proscenium stage and theatre in the round stage available inside the volume. Nevertheless, the main stage is outside and the auditorium may be located either throughout the venue or just in the gardens leaving the building undisturbed.
Act III
Additionally, people inside, at different times of the day, performing everyday activities are also a spectacle for which the new facility should be open and prepared.
Epilogue
The ruins are so tempting and romantic for their incompleteness. So, what may the future hold for this structure?
Competition poster
