Auditorium Arciconfraternita degli Azzurri | Antonio Galeano

The present project is aimed at the creation of a cultural center in Messina, in Via XXIV Maggio, former Via dei Monasteri, in the area of the Monte di Pietà and the "Nuovo Oratorio della Pace dei Bianchi" church. The project hypothesis involves the valorization and partial refunctionalization of the complex of patrimonial assets of the Illustrious, First and Noble Archconfraternities United under the Title of San Basilio degli Azzurri and della Pace dei Bianchi, subsequently referred to as the Archconfraternity, through the creation of a cultural center capable of combining historical tradition and culture of "contemporaneity". The multicultural center would be made up of the "Museum of the Passion", to be set up in the spaces of the "New Oratorio della Pace dei Bianchi" Church, by a Drama Center with an adjoining Theatre, to be built entirely in the space behind the current monumental complex of Monte di Pietà, and from the latter, which would lend itself to an exhibition and multifunctional space for synergistic activities with the first two. The three spaces would remain at the disposal of the Archconfraternity. The project has the objective of better realizing the mission of the The Archconfraternity on the one hand acts as a leaven for the growth of Messina and on the other by generating resources that allow the monumental heritage to be well maintained, guaranteeing its use to the community and to carry out works of mercy for the most needy. The multifunctional space designed tends to enhance the entire Monte di Pietà area and provides for the separate or synergistic management (in the event of important events such as conferences) of the three poles: a) the Contemporary Drama Center with the function of dramaturgy and acting school with attached theatre, b) of the current monumental complex of the Monte di Pietà which would maintain its intended use, currently active, as a multifunctional and exhibition space of excellence, c) of the Oratorio della Pace dei Bianchi, which maintaining its liturgical function would become an exhibition space and for conferences. a) Contemporary Drama Center. The Theater and the school of drama and acting related to it would be located, as considered above, on an area that is currently functionally free. The important architectural pre-existences relating to the ruins and the crypt of the church of " Santa Maria della Pietà" would be subject to recovery and "integration" of the new building intervention. The recovery and arrangement of the entire equipped green area is included, also with a view to valorising the existing archaeological finds. The functions in question would be hosted in a light and removable structure made of laminated wood, steel and glass. The area occupied by the Theater volume can be configured as a rectangle of approximately 30m x 18m, excluding external and access spaces. The entire intervention would end inside of the current free area without any interference with the public space. The Contemporary Drama Center would host a Theater and a School of dramaturgy and acting, with related services. The Theater would have a theater hall with approximately 250/300 seats, the minimum services conceived relating to the theater would be ticket office, dressing rooms, toilets for personal use, artists and public, cloakroom, (for a total of approximately 100/120) m2. The School of Dramatic Writing and Acting would have two classrooms and a small administration office , (for a total of approximately 70/80 m2), the toilets would be those supplied to the Theatre. The rear volume is intended as the headquarters of the Archconfraternity and for the creation of a "vertical art gallery" for the exhibition of the portraits of the Governors of the Azzurri from its foundation to the present day. The creation of a refreshment point/bar/"literary café" in the "foyer" is envisaged, also equipped with spaces created in the side garden and in the roof garden, which would be managed at the discretion of the Archconfraternity directly, or by entrusting its management to third parties. The Contemporary Drama Center project is awaiting a favorable opinion from the BB.CC.AA Superintendence. of Messina. During the investigation, an urban plan was prepared and "offered" to the Superintendence for the valorisation of an entire vast area around the Monte di Pietà, which includes underground car parks and pedestrian paths, to be created by the "Public". b) Monte di Pietà. Restoration work is planned for the structures of the Monte di Pietà, which are already usable today, as well as work to make the terrace above the rooms usable and possibly the construction of the entire second floor as an exhibition space. The use of spaces for "literary cafés" is envisaged. c) Museum of the Passion. The Church, preserving every current liturgical function, and integrally preserving the existing architectural organism, would host a thematic Museum on Popular Devotion, called "Museum of the Passion". The exhibition would host the entire monumental body of the popular tradition of the "barette", and a themed iconographic and documentary repertoire, made available by Professor Franz Riccobono, also in his capacity as co-creator with the architect Antonio Galeano, of the Museum. The Professor would also be the Curator of the exhibition of the Museum in question. The architectural project envisages a museum layout with low visual impact to be created in the current naves and apse area, with acoustic-stylistic enhancement of the current central nave. The project takes into account that the Ecclesiastical Authority has decided that the so-called "barette" and that this decision can be changed over time. Given the peculiarity of the exhibition "material" represented by the "barettes", the installation would be conceived in such a way as to be able to facilitate the movement of the same on the occasion of the Good Friday Procession, without therefore causing damage or inconvenience to the other materials on display or to the structures of the Museum generally. The construction of an armored room for the exhibition of the historical silver collection of the Archconfraternity is also planned.