carles enrich transforms santa eulàlia church into performing arts center

introducing a new center for performing arts, carles enrich studio revitalizes the former church of santa eulàlia in gironella, spain. dating back to the mid-fourteenth century, the stone structure had undergone innumerable changes of use throughout its six centuries of history. in 1907 the building underwent a series of alterations to accommodate various activities including a dwelling and carpentry workshop. throughout the 20th century it hosted a pasta factory and then a bar.

all images by adriá goula

due to the building’s derelict condition, carles enrich studio was called to reprogram the space for cultural activities related to the performing arts, especially dance, music and poetry. the project consists of reading all the historical layers and moments that have settled in santa eulàlia with the clear aim of highlighting the virtues of each intervention and understanding them as a sequence of layers. the planned new use requires the insertion of adapted services and an update of the facilities to comply with regulations for public space. likewise, the deterioration of facings and floors had caused problems of leaks and damp that required urgent renovation.

first, the design team at carles enrich studio recovered the space of the central aisle, extending the useful space available. the new program does not require an archive, so the shelves were eliminated, and the closed chapels used for storage. a birch wood floor was laid in the central part for dance and theater rehearsals and to guarantee good insulation. secondly, a service nucleus was inserted into one of the chapels to guarantee accessibility. the restroom takes the form of a pine plywood box with a pine-batten facing to conceal the doorway. due to its inertia, the underfloor heating system was not effective for occasional use and was replaced by an air renewal system designed to drive hot air through a grating that delimits the wooden floor in the central area.

thirdly, the intervention addressed the outer perimeter. the translucent facing of the façades was replaced by transparent glass that expands the field of vision, provides natural light all day, incorporates the street as a second façade and offers views of the church from the outside. vertical structures are reinforced and added to generate a rhythm and modulation of smaller glass panes that are easier to replace in case of breakage. this facing is completed by a fabric curtain on the inside that serves to manage lighting and improve acoustics and insulation depending on the events taking place. the permeability of this facing highlights the public nature of santa eulàlia as an extension of the urban landscape.