Reconstruction of the chapel - Second part of architectural thesis
The chapel was an essential element in the landscape for the owners of the castle and for the inhabitants of the surrounding area. Until the 18th century it formed the end of the calvary and for the family owning the castle the chapel was the final resting place. This tradition was preserved by the last owner of the castle, who was buried here, an act that I see as the first moment of destruction and the beginning of the disintegration of the castle and its importance to the region.
The chapel lost its significance, the calvary disappeared and the process of decay began on the chapel as well. Nowadays, the remains and shapes of the original state are visible, with indications of some kind of effort to restore and save the building.
It would be a misstep to try to rebuild the chapel and add to it functionally. In this case, even in the restoration of the original Calvary, I have tried to bring back a hint of the original mass of the chapel and not to functionally redefine it. It represents a strong memory of the place and the conclusion of a kind of journey and stage of the region. Its significance persists on the level of a symbol, as it did in the time of the original Calvary, and will do so in this proposal.
Materially, the original form is restored but in a different materiality to suggest a new entrance. There are fragments scattered around the chapel which, in the context of the whole, present the symbolism of the place. I am creating a so-called Memorial Area for them. A space of the same plan footprint as the chapel itself, linked together by stone steps. This area also represents the space before the last stop.
The chapel lost its significance, the calvary disappeared and the process of decay began on the chapel as well. Nowadays, the remains and shapes of the original state are visible, with indications of some kind of effort to restore and save the building.
It would be a misstep to try to rebuild the chapel and add to it functionally. In this case, even in the restoration of the original Calvary, I have tried to bring back a hint of the original mass of the chapel and not to functionally redefine it. It represents a strong memory of the place and the conclusion of a kind of journey and stage of the region. Its significance persists on the level of a symbol, as it did in the time of the original Calvary, and will do so in this proposal.
Materially, the original form is restored but in a different materiality to suggest a new entrance. There are fragments scattered around the chapel which, in the context of the whole, present the symbolism of the place. I am creating a so-called Memorial Area for them. A space of the same plan footprint as the chapel itself, linked together by stone steps. This area also represents the space before the last stop.
The chapel lost the whole part of its roof and the vault that protected the inner space of the crypt. I have no need to rebuild the chapel, only to add the necessary roofing and finishing touches to the previous space. The crown of the chapel has been concreted along the long sides and the steel structure completes the original shape of the roof structure. The roof covering is timber boards, each raised by 30mm at the lower point. This lets in soft light and creates fine lines of light in the interior roof. The rear cavity wall is designed in the same way. The interior of the chapel has been cleared of the debris that settled after the roof caved in. The four grave sites are accessed and cleaned, their back wall is completed with a commemorative plaque with names and years in titanium zinc. The chapel is accessed by a stone stepped path between the chapel and the cross.
The purpose of this area is to complete the original memory of the chapel through the presentation of fragments of the chapel scattered around the surrounding area. At the same time, it is the area in front of the last stop and the chapel (association space + view of the surroundings). The material is a gravel bed in which the fragments are placed. In plan it is a simulation of the chapel plan.
The purpose of this area is to complete the original memory of the chapel through the presentation of fragments of the chapel scattered around the surrounding area. At the same time, it is the area in front of the last stop and the chapel (association space + view of the surroundings). The material is a gravel bed in which the fragments are placed. In plan it is a simulation of the chapel plan.
Memorial area in front of the chapel
The purpose of this area is to complete the original memory of the chapel by presenting fragments of the chapel scattered around the surrounding area. At the same time, it is the area in front of the last stop and the chapel (association space + view of the surroundings). The material is a gravel bed in which the fragments are placed. In plan it is a simulation of the chapel plan.
