Parish Centre Gallneukirchen

Conversion
2008-2015
Location: Gallneukirchen
Client: RC parish church
www.pfarre-gallneukirchen.at


The parochial house with its medieval nucleus was converted into the still existing residential and agricultural building in about 1760. Before reconstruction work began, the youth rooms, which had been built into the former stables in the 1960s, were damp and electricity, heating system and windows were in bad condition.
Demolishing the agricultural part of the building, which was inhospitable and protruding into the church square, was vital for the converting process.  A narrower stage annexe meets with the alignment of the church and thus responds with its pillar and beam structure made of bricks and ashlars to the buttresses of the church façade.
The basement jutting out into the square provides an appealing stairway and suitable access to the parish centre for people with impairments. Inside a lift joins all levelled floors with the improved living area, working space and breakout rooms. The historical basement was upgraded by draining the walls. The hall and the old stairway gained better lighting by changing the windows and new stairs to the private rooms were assembled.
The square which started out round the church has become the parish square for pedestrians. It follows the naturally sloped terrain resembling a carpet made of stones.