ESTUDIO QO arte \ arquitectura

Chiesa Dirutta is the result of layers upon layers of history. Through renovations, expansions, and collapses, a historical tapestry has been woven—one that, by sheer coincidence, has given shape to the ruins that still stand today. Our intention is to intervene in this historical narrative through a sequence of operations.

The sequence begins with a logical deduction: the church is collapsing—it must be supported. Thus, the interior walls are reinforced with scaffolding that props up the structure, aiming to preserve it as it stands. This scaffolding follows a regular grid and is arranged along all the walls of the central nave, mirroring its voids.

Once this structure is in place, it is utilized to support two volumes that house the main programs—one for the enclosed auditorium, the other defining a veranda—both suspended from the upper part of the grid. The vertical and horizontal circulations leading to them are embedded in the scaffolding.

Finally, a series of large curtains also hang from the scaffolding, flooding the entire central nave and shaping a theatrical space where everything becomes a spectacle. The realms of performance and everyday life merge; the question of who watches and who is watched multiplies, echoing through every fold of the fabric. The performance begins the moment someone crosses the threshold.  

For those moving through the stairways and walkways within the structure, the experience of navigating the church is intimate. The texture of its walls is ever-present along the journey, revealing their fragility in full. For those in the central nave, the relationship with the ruins is mysterious. Always veiled by what the curtain allows to be seen, every corner hides a fragment of history that, at times, momentarily reveals itself to the observer.