linazasoro & sanchez architects fit cultural center in derelict spanish church
image © miguel de guzman
all images courtesy of linazasoro & sanchez architecture

 

 

 

in lavapies, one of madrid’s oldest neighborhoods containing a collection of historical monuments and buildings, the ‘escuelas pias’ church has undergone a modern transformation into a cultural center. local studio linazasoro & sanchez architecture looked at current state of ruin of the church premises to inform the architectural intervention that was to share a space with, and re-design, the historical structure. as each portion of the existing building was in various stages of decay, the architects sought out to capture the qualities inherent in the materials, quality of light, and proportions of spaces.  in this way, the contemporary intervention was not a preconceived insertion of unrelated elements that would remain almost a secondary building within a derelict environment, but instead used updated forms of the existing elements to bring new life to the spaces, finding new ways to highlight the historical features.
linazasoro & sanchez architects fit cultural center in derelict spanish church
central nave is left very much the same as it has always existed
image © miguel de guzman

 

 

many of the existing masonry walls were left intact to preserve the decrepit outer shell of the church. contemporary timber elements form smaller parts of the interior that suggest new use without detracting from the historical architecture. a curved louvered ceiling of wooden slats forms a barrel roof in the main nave, hiding the state of the ceiling above but still maintaining the existing proportions. updated custom furniture informs a renewed space as well that utilizes the existing space.

linazasoro & sanchez architects fit cultural center in derelict spanish church
the exterior rear wall becomes an interior wall for the new building
image © miguel de guzman

 

 

off the back end of the church, a new multi-storied structure houses a series of new rooms for the various events hosted. built of masonry with a similar colored brick, this portion of the building departs from the traditional definition of the adjacent historical building while still relating as an extension.

linazasoro & sanchez architects fit cultural center in derelict spanish church
new structure added onto the back of escuelas pias
image © miguel de guzman

linazasoro & sanchez architects fit cultural center in derelict spanish church
entry from the plaza
image © miguel de guzman

linazasoro & sanchez architects fit cultural center in derelict spanish church
site plan

linazasoro & sanchez architects fit cultural center in derelict spanish church
floor plan / level 0

 

 

project info:

 

 

architect: josé ignacio linazasoro, arquitecto
collaborators: josé maría garcía del monte, architect; ana maría montiel jiménez, architect; fernando rodríguez colorado, architect; juan francisco de la torre calvo (structure), architect
photographs: miguel de guzmán. fotografía de arquitectura
technical assistance in construction: jose ignacio linazasoro, architect; josé maría garcía del monte, architect; hugo sebastián de erice, architect; juan carlos corona, technical architect
client: gerencia municipal de urbanismo del ayuntamiento de madrid
construction: aldesa
location: c/ tribulete 14, madrid, spain
area: 4.000 m2
budget: 800.000.000 ptas.