Hidden in plain sight: Exploring roofs in the reuse of Flemish post-war Parish churches

• Autores: Femke van der Meulen, Sven Sterken, Stephanie Van de Voorde
• Localización: Structures and Architecture. Volume 3: REstructure REmaterialize REthink REuse / Mario Rinke (ed. lit.), Marie Frier Hvejsel (ed. lit.), Aníbal Maury Ramírez (ed. lit.), Zena Ndiaye (ed. lit.), Ilse Lindenbergh (ed. lit.), Elise Enthoven (ed. lit.), 2025, ISBN 9781040447239, págs. 429-437
• Idioma: inglés
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  • This paper explores the role of the roof construction in the adaptive reuse of post-war parish churches in Flanders, focusing on the work of architect Marc Dessauvage (1931-1984). Concentrating on the entanglement between roof structure and ceiling, this paper investigates how both layers were handled in the original design of the parish church and how this influenced decisions during their refurbishment process. Specifically, this is accomplished by a historical and pathological analysis of four of Dessauvage’s parish churches, revealing how these structures, besides their ‘hidden’ nature, would strongly affect each phase of the refurbishment process. Hence, this paper hopes to unravel the various roles the material dimension of post-war parish churches play or could play within their adaptive reuse, thereby contributing to our understanding and interaction with this religious heritage.