x2 architettura: san floriano di gavassa church

‘san floriano di gavassa church’ by x2 architettura, gavassa, reggio emilia, italyimage © paola de pietri, giacomo magnani all images courtesy of x2 architettura

in the town of gavassa in italy’s emilia-romagna province, italian practice x2 architettura have renovated and added a new wing to the ‘san floriano di gavassa church’. positioned adjacent to the maintained historic facade, a white curved wall enclosing the intervention keeps a discreet appearance. situated to the north of the existing structure, the entities are kept separate, and connected internally by three passages. the original arched entrance to the church becomes the internal portal to the wing containing the liturgical room.

the longitudinal elevation is fitted with skylights along the exterior wall to bring soft northern daylight inside, streaming patterns along the white surface. dedicated to sunday masses, the elliptical perimeter wall hugs the congregation within a wide and light space. arranged axially to the entrance, the chairs are arranged in curved rows which allow people to sit face to face, across the altar and ambo. the expressive interior evokes a spiritual ambiance.

curved addition meets the existing churchimage © paola de pietri, giacomo magnani

entry into new additionimages © paola de pietri, giacomo magnani

exterior of liturgical roomimage © paola de pietri, giacomo magnani

passage mediating the original church and added wingimage © paola de pietri, giacomo magnani

original church entry is portal to liturgical roomimage © paola de pietri, giacomo magnani

liturgical roomimage © paola de pietri, giacomo magnani

congregation is seated in curved rows which sit opposite each otherimage © paola de pietri, giacomo magnani

northern perimeter wall brings in daylight through skylightsimage © paola de pietri, giacomo magnani

daylighting effectsimage © paola de pietri, giacomo magnani

view from outsideimage © paola de pietri, giacomo magnani

site plan

floor plan / level 0

section

sectional sketch>

conceptual sketch

diagram

project info:

client: parrocchia di san florianoschedule: 2005 invited competition: first prize, 2007 final design, 2008-2009 1st phase (new building), 2009-2010 2nd phase (restoration)structures:  ing.pierluigi cigarini, ing.rachele perniolaelectrical systems: ing.loris cavandolithermomechanical systems: ing.luca lottimons.enrico mazza (liturgist-università cattolica di milano)mons.tiziano girelli (director of the ufficio diocesano beni culturali ecclesiastici- diocesi reggio emilia-guastalla)artist: sunghe oh, koreasound engineer: corrado cristina, (ing emanuele morlini competition phase)building contractor: sacea spa impresa generale di costruzioni, scandiano (re)acoustic system: a&t multimedia srl, lavis (tn)location: gavassa, reggio emiliadimensional data: 3000 square meters (area surface), 750 square meters (total area) (350 square meters – new wing, 400 square meters – existing church)cost of work: 890.000,00 EUR excepted furniture, works of art and external renovationphotography: paola de pietri, giacomo magnani