Santa Maria del Carmine in Florence is one of the most known churches of the historical center and it brings thousands of tourists every year to visit the famous Cappella Brancacci.The Historical Center of Piazza del Carmine counts several churches of different religious cults: Catholic, Protestant and Anglican are some of them.
Recently, the desecrated Anglican Church of Piazza del Carmine has been purchased and renovated by one of the most famous fashion designers of Italy, Roberto Cavalli. From a symbolic perspective, the church itself preserves the typical characteristics of a sacred structure. The façade is tall and looks out on the flat piazza. The Latin Cross layout remains and at the intersection of the transept and main nave the altar is found. During the day, the piazza seems like any other sacred place – quiet and holy. During the night however, this area becomes one of the most crowded of Florence.
The desecrated Anglican church becomes a night club and all its religious symbolism is taken over by a secular world. The interior is reinvented and the luxurious high ceilings of the main nave are lit by fluorescents lights. The symmetry of the Latin cross layout is maintained, but the benches facing the altar are relocated and moved around to create small lounge areas within the larger nave. The altar itself loses its religious connotation, but preserve all the Christian symbolism. It is still the focus of the space and in fact functions as a deejay station. Music and nightlife become the focus of the space.
The niches on the side aisles retain their function – they are kept as comfort areas away from the chaotic atmosphere of the night club. The cross vaults are maintained and relate back to the symbolism of the Church.The pictorial icons of Christ and Saints are replaced by secular posters and photographs. Comfortable chairs are chosen on the place of wooden benches. Smooth and shiny materials contrast the concrete walls of the original structure.
Overall, the edifice was redesigned to accomodate a different public, but it still preserve the main symbols of a church, although reinvented. Do you think the architect/designer kept in mind the religious symbolism of the structure when remodeling the space? How so? Do you think this is the appropriate space to turn into a nightclub (keep in mind that the church was desecrated for decades and not in use)?
I think that the designer considered different symbols of religion when designing the space, but failed to understand the meaning of those symbols. He has to be aware that religious symbols are very sacred to people who follow the various traditions faithfully. Even though the church was not being used it should be preserved because it is a historical building. I believe a sacred place like a church will remain sacred. Redesigning an interior of a building such as this should be designed in a way that still honors those traditions. This place obviously reaches a different audience than its previous occupants when it was a church. I am sure those who previously practiced their religion here, or currently practice the same religion, would feel that it is completely inappropriate.
ReplyDeleteThe designer uses literal symbolism, for example the altar is still a main focal point. However, the symbolism of WHY that place in the space is sacred is lost.
I think that a night club inside of a church - that’s no longer in use of course - is an innovative idea. The interior of the Santa Maria del Carmine is so different from the look of typical nightclubs that people will surely have a unique experience. This reminds me of a man who took an old church in California, I believe, and turned it into his own home. If a church is no longer in use I don’t see the problem with reusing the building for a different purpose. However, I don’t think it was appropriate for the architect, Roberto Cavalli, to keep and use strong religious elements in the space, like the alter, for other purposes. The alter is a very important symbol of faith and a sacred place for many religions and thus, I don’t think it was respectful to turn it into a dj station. I’m glad the Cavalli did choose to remove the pictorial icons of Christ and the Saints; they would have been very out of place hanging in a nightclub.
ReplyDeleteSymbolic
ReplyDeletePersonally, this is one of the most interesting spaces I have seen in a while. Even though I am Catholic, and this seems to desecrate this space, it is a very creative concept. I do though feel that it is strange to have a nightclub in a space where religious practices once took place; and I do feel that it is dishonoring the space. I don’t think I would mind if the space was remodeled into a restaurant or even a library, I think that because a nightclub entails inappropriate behavior. I do however feel that the designer/architect did kept eh religious symbolism in mind when remodeling the space. If he had not, it would completely lose all if its importance and unique quality. An example of his knowledge is the use of the niche spaces and continuing to use them as intimate spaces rather than more public areas.