How an abandoned 600-year-old temple in Spain was turned into a public space - photo

/ Events /

In the town of Gironella, a temple over 600 years old was reconstructed. Thanks to the architectural project of Carles Enrich Studio, the abandoned building received a new life - it was repurposed into a public space.

Currently, cultural and artistic events related to acting, dancing, music and poetry are held here. write Archdaily.

In 1971, the church of Santa Eulàlia became the property of the city, because the previous owner could not ensure its proper maintenance, so the building began to deteriorate, and in 2016, due to the state of emergency of the structure, there was a need to reconstruct it and change its purpose.

This is what the renovated building of the temple looks like today. Photo: Adrià Goula

 

This is what the church looked like in 1984. Photo: archdaily.com

The restoration project, developed by the Carles Enrich Studio, provided for the preservation of all historical architectural elements, but due to the state of emergency of the building, it was necessary to replace the cladding, the floor and rebuild the walls to protect the premises from excessive humidity. After carrying out repair work, the temple was waiting for reconstruction, which the architects divided into three stages. 

Exterior of the restored former temple. Photo: Adrià Goula

The interior of the main building of the renovated building. Photo: Adrià Goula

The first of them provided for the arrangement of the main space. It was covered with a wooden birch parquet in order to improve thermal insulation properties and make rehearsals of dances and theater performances more comfortable. In addition, it was important to establish a single floor level to emphasize the clear geometry of the walls.

Currently, the church of Santa Eulàlia has the function of a public space. To ensure comfort, it has been equipped with additional rooms. Photo: archdaily.com

Interior architecture of public space. Photo: Adrià Goula

This is what the building looked like at the beginning of the XNUMXst century. Photo: archdaily.com

The creation of functional zones was the second stage. Since the building had to change its purpose, dressing rooms, changing rooms and other auxiliary rooms were arranged inside the space. 

Interior architecture of public space. Photo: Adrià Goula

The architects in the project sought to combine historicity with modernity. Photo: Adrià Goula

The developers paid a lot of attention to engineering communications. A warm floor system was installed here, which prevents it from getting wet and warms the hall. Instead, ventilation works through recovery, which allows you to keep heat inside for a long time, as well as reduce the impact on the environment and minimize electricity costs.

Glass facades provide the premises with a lot of light. Photo: Adrià Goula

Glass facades provide the premises with a lot of light. Photo: Adrià Goula

However, probably the most important stage was the adaptation of the building to the urban environment. For this, the Carles Enrich Studio team renovated part of its facade and body. Small windows were expanded and transparent panoramas were installed in their place. They provide the room with light throughout the day and open a view of the church. Such decisions emphasize the new character of Santa Eulàlia as a public place and a continuation of the urban landscape.

 

 

Read also

Peaceful Weapon. The loft buro team presented master models of Mod.ua modular furniture

Capsules of the legendary Nakagin tower are dismantled and sent to museums - photo

What does the "most ecological furniture factory in the world" look like from Bjarke Ingels Group