Adaptive Reuse of Roman Catholic Churches

Nyhet

Good Practice and Viable Solutions for Converting Sacred Spaces

Inbunden, Engelska, 2026

2 839 kr

Beställningsvara. Skickas inom 10-15 vardagar. Fri frakt för medlemmar vid köp för minst 249 kr.

This book examines the adaptive reuse of Roman Catholic churches through twenty-five case studies from Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium. It addresses the complex intersection of theology, heritage conservation, and contemporary social needs and explores how sacred spaces can serve new secular purposes while preserving their spiritual, historical, and cultural significance.Integrating historical, theological, architectural, and policy perspectives, this book traces the historical evolution of church reuse, the impact of secularization, and the ethical responsibilities of architects, alongside the conservation principles that shape sacred heritage management. Theological reflections address ecclesiastical spatial symbolism, canon law, profanation, and episcopal guidelines in the selected countries. Comparative national profiles analyze religious demographics, church infrastructure, and property stewardship. Case studies illustrate diverse reuse models – from liturgical continuity to radical transformation – across cultural, social, commercial, residential, and interfaith contexts. The conclusions synthesize the findings, offering strategies that balance heritage preservation with contemporary functional needs.This publication is aimed at architects, historians, art theorists, architecture researchers, conservators, priests, and the managers of these buildings, as well as enthusiasts of sacred architecture who care deeply about its future, as this book is intentionally multi-layered and multi-dimensional.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum2026-03-18
Mått156 x 234 x undefined mm
Vikt610 g
FormatInbunden
SpråkEngelska
SerieRoutledge Research in Architectural Conservation and Historic Preservation
Antal sidor222
FörlagTaylor & Francis Ltd
ISBN9781032883007

Tillhör följande kategorier

Arkitektur inom Kultur
Inredningsarkitektur inom Kultur
Kulturvetenskap inom Samhälle och politik
Religion: allmänt inom Filosofi och religion
Kristendom inom Filosofi och religion
Byggnadsvård inom Naturvetenskap och teknik

Maria Arno (PhD) is an architect and Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Architecture at Warsaw University of Technology. She earned both her MA degree in Architecture and Urban Planning (2016) and her PhD (2023) from the same institution. Her work focuses on sacred and monumental architecture, and she is the author of articles and scholarly publications on the adaptive reuse of churches, monument preservation, and sustainable architectural development. She is a member of Future for Religious Heritage, the European Academy of Religion, and the ICOMOS Poland Committee on the History and Conservation of Sacred Architecture.

Chapter 1. Research context and aims Chapter 2. Theoretical framework and historical context of church reuse Chapter 3. Theological reflections and ecclesiastical principles on the interior and adaptation of Roman Catholic Churches Chapter 4. Religious landscape and church property management in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Poland Chapter 5. Case Studies Chapter 6. Discussion and final conclusions

“The issue of repurposing decommissioned churches is a complex challenge, as it touches on sensitive aspects not only from a theological standpoint, but also from social and economic perspectives. Maria Arno’s book serves as a valuable resource for professionals and scholars seeking both theoretical insight and practical guidance. The historical perspective helps to temper the sense of urgency, while the design perspective aids in evaluating concrete implementations.”Andrea Longhi, Full Professor of History of Architecture at the Politecnico di Torino and a member of the ICOMOS–PRERICO Italian Committee. He advised the Pontifical Council for Culture on research and the implementation of the Guidelines for the Decommissioning and Ecclesial Reuse of Churches (2018).