After lying in disrepair for many years, the building of the former 12th-century parish
church located in a small village outside Pistoia, Italy, was sold by local authorities. The
propertyʼs new owner wanted to turn it into a place for tasting local, celebrated gourmet
sweets. The new entrance to the church was not to interfere with its historic façade,
while inviting visitors inside and providing a space for socializing and promoting local
cultural heritage.
church located in a small village outside Pistoia, Italy, was sold by local authorities. The
propertyʼs new owner wanted to turn it into a place for tasting local, celebrated gourmet
sweets. The new entrance to the church was not to interfere with its historic façade,
while inviting visitors inside and providing a space for socializing and promoting local
cultural heritage.
When designing the entrance to the church, I paid particular attention to its location. I decided to use the buildingʼs side wall so as not to alter the 12th century structure and character. As I realised, the square in front of the church lacked a place to rest, sit, and enjoy the view of the temple. Like a gate, my proposed elongated entrance, is showing the way, without imposing itself on San Micheleʼs articulation, or creating a sense of heaviness. The inspiration for this project was the renovation of Scuola di Santa Maria della Misericordia located in Venice undertaken by Alberto Torsello and Gruppo Umana, which created an additional modern space with the possibility of hosting events and exhibitions. The material I chose is copper, which blends in with the surroundings and matures over time. By locating the structure in its proposed spot, I intended to complement and indirectly enclose the space of the square.
