On May 15th, 2020 viaARCHITECTURE submitted a proposal to Reuse the Fallen Church- Chiesa Diruta of Grottole, Matera.

LACRIMOSA (REQUIEM)

Full of tears will be that day When from the ashes shall arise…

The fallen church is risen again, metamorphosed from architectural ruin into an instrument of remembrance and performance. It has become a voluminous space of sound and celebration returned to the city of Matera as well as an instrument of ongoing performance, reenacting the historical and environmental role of rainwater conservation, brought to life with its own Stravinsky fountain.

The 16th century remains are stabilized and allowed to determine the performance hall as a nested form within a new space defining envelope. The envelopes’ structure is entirely of mass timber, supported by glue laminated columns that emerge from the central space like a forest of trees to support an array of discordant and parallel V-shaped trusses. The trusses fold downward toward the center so that the roof can act as a collector of rainwater. The collected water travels down the columns and across demarcated paths embedded in the floor terminating with a set of tubular scuppers that, like trumpets, project the water as a performance into a monumental basin, an urban scale fountain set adjacent to the lower entrance. The side walls of the envelope are hung from the trusses to fit tautly over the masonry church form like a glove. The exterior cladding is standing seam lightweight steel, and it is punctuated with windows that, like musical notes, resonate with those of the structure that remains.

The orientation of the original church has been reversed to allow the lower level to act as a vestibule with coat room, gift shop and ticket booth. Above this, at the top of the stair, is the entry to the performance hall with a balcony over the entrance, and an interior bar. Bathrooms and dressing rooms occupy an ancillary structure to the original basilica. The stage sits in the position of the original church vestibule, the eroded corner becoming a second means of entrance. Like a gothic cathedral the emphasis is vertical, onto the new material presence lofted above and illuminated. The columnar displacement in line of sight is counterbalanced by video monitors which occupy all parts of the interior space.