San José Church was built in a gothic style between 1532 & 1735 as a conventual church for Dominican friars. In its 474 years, the climatic ravages of time and the lack of timely preventative conservation work have had a harmful toll on it.
Having closed the temple to the public about ten years ago in response to the collapse of one of its main nave lamps, the building deteriorated due to various problems, such as unchecked rainwater and trapped humidity. Trying to rescue this patient, the structure was surveyed between 2004-2007 to determine its actual conditions. The diagnosis, together with a historical and architectural analysis, has led to new insights about the evolution of the church. Its multiple expansions and repairs have resulted in a complex historical record. The conservation of the structure will not be easy.
This exhibit was curated, planned and designed to share and explain the renovation process with the community, along with many of the archaeological, architectural and cultural discoveries that have been made.
As a historical building, particular codes did not allow for any of the materials to be adhered to the Church’s surfaces. A series of self-standing modules were designed for some of the panels, and others were creatively installed onto the structural crutches of the renovation. The panels were distributed through the space to allow visitors to enjoy a complete walk-around, while simultaneously providing exposure to all of the contents.
The exhibit was designed to integrate with the architectural space and the current renovation strategies.
Spaces for reflection and meditation were opened through the experience of the exhibit.
Historical Renovation guidelines did not allow for any of the exhibit materials to be fixed to any of the surfaces of the Church. A self-standing system was generated, which allows for customization of the panels and renovation work moves to a different area of the space.
Panels were then embedded in the structures used for renovation.
The panels, designed as self-contained pieces of information, provided a piece to the larger history of the place visitors now inhabit.
The history of the space if enriched, through imagery and typography, to allow the visitor to fantasize, imagine, and understand.
The exhibit exists in constant negotiation with the historical richness of the space and the cold industrial quality of the renovation structures.
We all await the time when the renovation work is done and the industrial crutches removed so that the Church can begin to tell new stories and share lessons of its long lived life.
Visitors experiencing the space.
EXHIBITION CREDITS _ Curatorial Effort Beatriz del Cueto, FAIA, Marel Del Toro, AIT, Agamemnon Pantel, PhD, Alberto Rigau, AIGA Design & Strategy Estudio Interlínea Designers Alberto Rigau, AIGA (creative director and designer), Alfonso Gómez Arzola, assistant Text Editing Armando Rigau Historical and Iconographic Consultant Dr. Arturo Dávila Rodríguez Religious Consultant Mons. Fernando B. Felices Sánchez Technical Consultant Agamemnon Pantel, PhD Education Prof. Socorrito Díaz Digital Printing Global Graphics Offset Printing Model Offset Printing Other colaborations Luis A. Cerda, Susana Rigau Photography Agamemnon Pantel, PhD; Antonio Daubón; Joseph Elliott; Beatriz del Cueto, FAIA; Alberto Rigau, AIGA; Alfonso Gómez Arzola; Marie C. Ubiles; Edmund Meade, PE; Dan Cuoco, PE; Lyles McBratney; Cynthia Silva; John Hinchman y Mons. Fernando B. Felices Sánchez.