The conversion of the Filitelnic fortified Evangelical Church ensemble

Authors’ Comment

The project proposes the adaptive reuse of the Fortified Evangelical Church Ensemble in the Saxon village of Filitelnic, located in Mureș County. It introduces a range of functions, including educational, touristic, museum and social uses, with the aim of creating a complex programme that responds to various issues identified both within the village and across the wider territory. Through this approach, both the fortified ensemble and the village of Filitelnic can benefit from increased social and economic resilience, transforming the ensemble into a cultural and touristic focal point.

In order to achieve this goal, the initial intervention area, limited to the perimeter of the ensemble, was extended to include the adjacent public space as well as the wider public realm of the village. This approach aims to better integrate the ensemble into the surrounding landscape while also highlighting the extended Saxon built heritage present throughout the village. As a result, the project developed around two main strategies: the first, at a larger scale, addresses the design of the public realm in a coherent manner, in accordance with the character of the Saxon settlement; the second focuses on the consolidation and restoration of the ensemble’s buildings, while preserving their original character. These strategies are complemented by a series of targeted interventions aimed at adapting the buildings to the new functional requirements of the proposed programme.

Through the introduction of three discreet contemporary insertions, designed as a coherent whole and using materials compatible with the historic heritage fabric, as well as through the completion of the fortified enclosure, the ensemble gains greater functional flexibility and allows for multiple scenarios of use. The three main new functions consist of a community space, a gastronomic point and a crafts and trades centre. These functions will coexist with the religious use of the Evangelical Church, with the different activities being able to operate either together or independently.

Each new function has been conceived with a specific purpose and target audience in mind. By making use of locally grown varieties of fruits and vegetables and transforming them into traditional products, the gastronomic point supports the economic component of the ensemble. The crafts and trades centre aims to keep the local craft heritage alive while also contributing to the training of a new generation of skilled craftspeople specialised in the rehabilitation of built heritage. Last but not least, the community centre, located within the Evangelical Church, will primarily serve the local community by providing a space for cultural, educational, social and private events. The religious character of the space will not be removed, and the church can still be used for religious purposes. This dual role responds, on the one hand, to the need for a community space and, on the other, to the need to preserve the memory and identity of the place, thereby enriching the range of activities that can take place within the ensemble.

The restoration interventions are kept to a minimum, with the existing elements being conserved rather than fully reconstructed using traditional techniques. Consequently, most of the new additions, such as the church cornice, the nave vault and the openings introduced into the enclosure wall, are not reproduced using the same materials as the historic fabric. Instead, new materials such as Corten steel, timber and gabions made of metal mesh and gravel are used to create a clear distinction between the historic fabric and the contemporary interventions.

As a result, the museification of the ensemble is avoided, allowing it to become an active cultural, social and economic centre, open both to the local community and to visitors.