With the aim to achieve functional restoration of Saint Rocco’s church in Italy for cultural purposes, architects Luigi Valente and Mauro Di Bona have converted the building into a theatre and multi-purpose hall.
“Mildly maintained over the years, the building has been affected by general renovation works on the roof with the addition of a reinforced concrete curb stiffened by transversal steel tie rods and the replacement of the original roof with a concrete and masonry structure,” said the architects.
“Being the building bound and of secular construction, however having a public non-religious theatrical destination from an earlier period to 1967, the works of stage adjustment, maintenance of the installations, safety and furnishing were necessary to make the hall functionally suitable to be used as a conference room and theater hall,” explained the architects.
With a preserved façade, the building’s bright and minimalist interior is a combination of whitewashed surfaces and historic features such as the retained portion of stone flooring.
Fitted with black armchairs that contract with the white interior, the building is capable of accommodating up to 100 people.
Featuring energy conservation through the use of a LED lighting system and a radiant floor panel heating system, other renovations on the building include removal of the false ceiling in modules, reconstruction of the wooden beams, renewing of the internal flooring, adjustment of the entries, upgrading of electrical systems, installation of a proscenium, and the construction of accessible washrooms.
