DRAPE PAVILION
When proposed with creating a roof structure to repurpose the ruins of an old church within a small municipality of Catalunya we turned towards looking into the cultural traditions of the proud locals
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The Sardana dance is as much a dance as it is a symbolic ritual to the people of Catalunya. Recognized and practiced all over as sign of unity, it involves all ages and acts as a cultural connection through generations.
The project connects the two remaining structures of the church through draping canopies to create a light flowing roof structure for performance venues. When it is not being used the venue also acts as a meditative pavilion.
EXISTING SPACE: A void must be filled. The exsisting site of Sant Joan de Abedesses marks the remaining structure of the Romanesque / Baroque church, a landmark in Ripoll. Although the historic church sits well in the site, it asks for more; a performance space with a contemporary structure that doesn’t intrude but represents a new space for activity.
BRIDGING THE GAP: The basic structure originates from a repetitive
modular wood construction that interjects into the site, bridging the void existing on the site, without seeming heavy and dominant, simultaneously creating a new significance of the space.
SPECTRUM OF INTIMACY: By compressing and extruding the wood posts, a range of different spaces are created within the footprint. Creating shaded spaces for reading and various activitives, or lit spaces that catch the fresh sunlight of the region.
PROGRAM: An abstraction of the Sardana Dance, the roof of the structure drapes and holds at different heights and points sheltering the performance space. The roof not only acts as a shelter, but drops at certain moments and acts as a hammock when it is not being used for performances, transforming the site to consistent active space.
