Cult to Culture
A semantic shift of catholic churches
M.E. Ciucci (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
M.G. Vink – Mentor (TU Delft - History, Form & Aesthetics)
John Hanna – Mentor (TU Delft - History, Form & Aesthetics)
R.R. van den Ban – Mentor (TU Delft - Teachers of Practice / AE+T)
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Abstract
This thesis investigates the management and transformation of Christian architectural heritage, with a particular focus on Catholic churches. It explores the dynamics of friction and propulsion that shape this process, analyzing their implications in contemporary society and potential future trajectories. Anchored in the case study of the former Church of Santa Rita da Cascia in Campitelli, located in Rome’s Rione Sant’Angelo, the research offers context-specific reflections intended to stimulate broader discourse on the fate of disused churches across Europe.
Structured around guiding research questions, the thesis is divided into three main sections. The first examines the historical and cultural roles of Catholic churches, emphasizing their function as urban landmarks and spaces of collective identity. The second part addresses the regulatory landscape in Italy, shaped by its cultural and institutional proximity to the Vatican, and contrasts it with the more pragmatic Dutch approach to church reuse. This comparative analysis highlights the tensions between safeguarding symbolic religious value and adapting buildings to contemporary needs.
The final section synthesizes the findings to propose strategies for reimagining Catholic churches in ways that preserve their historical and architectural identity while enabling new, socially relevant functions. Through the lens of the Santa Rita da Cascia case study, the thesis proposes a critical yet constructive perspective on transforming sacred heritage into meaningful assets for modern communities.