[ARREA Architecture]
The renovation of castle Grad is a long-term process. It started ten years before our studio got involved and used many diverse approaches to save and stabilize the ruined structure. Our small interventions punctually refresh the existing space and generate new functions.
The existing castle structure encircling the double-leveled courtyard and surrounding it by a vaulted corridor. On the second floor, the corridor runs all around and binds the existing and newly renovated spaces into a whole. Along the semi-renovated arcade hallway there are some abandoned spaces, temporarily used for exhibitions, new reconstructed spaces with no function, and some recently renovated rooms with sleeping facilities, wedding hall, salon, and small museum spaces. The exhibition is dedicated to the nature and cultural landscape of the Landscape park Goričko to which the castle belongs. A year ago also the chapel was renovated, in front of it, there is a small exhibition space presenting the castle’s history.
The chapel is a beautiful existing space, it was left almost untouched, frescoes that were discovered are marking the sacred role of the space. Space is used for concerts and other events.
Because of the financial problems, the idea to revitalize the whole structure seems more and more unreal. But it became obvious through the use of the spaces it is possible to keep it alive also in all the diverse spaces. So the whole structure today works as a collage of different renovation approaches and shows us also all the stages of its ruined condition. Through that, the castle is a showcase of time passing through architecture and proves that life does not need much for events to happen.
The construction was mostly stabilized and done before us. All recent construction interventions were planned to stabilize the existing structure further to enable the new function in the renovated rooms.
Source: www.arrea.si + www.archdaily.com
Photography by: Tadej Bolta + Miran Kambič + Maruša Zorec + Mitja Kuret