Adaptive Reuse : Brutalist Church Becomes a Living Space ; A Redesign Based on the Analysis of Brutalist Religious Architecture
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2021
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MACHINE-GENERATED SUMMARY NOTE : Brutalism in architecture is a very controversial style. However, it has attracted considerable attention not only through criticism, but also for its innovation and functionality. Le Corbusier's residential unit in Marseille, finished in 1952, is generally considered to have been a primary source of inspiration for Brutalist architects. The beginning of Brutalism can be traced back to the period between World War I and World War II at the beginning of the 20th century, as well as in the theory of New Brutalism created by the Englishmen Alison and Peter Smithson, which was later supported by Reyner Banham1. Nonetheless, the peak of Brutalism began in the 1950s and it is in relation to Le Corbusier's unit that the term 'béton-brut' or raw concrete originated2. Brutalism as understood today, developed after World War II in the United States and then quickly spread throughout Europe and the rest of the world. Largely, Brutalist architecture drew attention mainly through its use of reinforced concrete, which was driven by the state of the economies in Europe after the Second World War. The countries in Europe faced significant economic and social struggles. The struggles that arose meant that it was difficult for countries to dedicate resources on expensive building materials, therefore, Brutalist buildings, which required mainly concrete, were a solution to this significant economic burden. Brutalist buildings were simple, raw, rough and solid3. Nonetheless, the style quickly spread and began to be appreciated by many and not simply used for its functionality. Reyner Banham distinguishes four characteristics that a building must have in order to be considered Brutalist - to have the materials in their raw form when constructing, to exhibit a clear and comprehensive visual experience, clear exhibition of structure and an architectural composition that can be recognized from the layout of the structure4. Therefore an array of buildings for different purposes may fall into the category of Brutalism which is not only applied to build a specific type of building (e.g. institutional). Some of the most interesting Brutalist-style constructions are religious buildings. Considering the specifications and origin of Brutalist buildings, it is interesting to trace the different purposes for which Brutalist-style buildings, particularly religious buildings can be used. Adaptive reuse is a term used for changing the purpose of a building to something different from what it was initially built for, in order to preserve buildings and save them from destruction. In historical terms, adaptive reuse was employed in an effort to save time and resources from destroying and building new, but also for its cultural, social and environmental impact5. The following thesis aims to expand on the idea of repurposing religious buildings for living purposes, focusing in particular on the Brutalist churches of Europe. Furthermore, it supports the idea that Brutalist religious buildings, particularly those that are unused and becoming desolate, are a good fit for adaptive reuse projects aimed at creating living spaces. The paper incorporates research concerned with the essence of religious buildings and Brutalist style architecture and combines it with research on the role of the church in Europe in order provide an analysis as to how religious buildings can be repurposed as living spaces