The churches that line the streets of Spain are magnificent and sublime; they are not only a must-see for tourists, but also occupy an extremely important place in the lives of Spaniards. One such structure, the Santa Barbara Church, has a history spanning over a century. After being abandoned for more than half a century, it has been transformed into one of the most stunning community skate parks in the world. Friends who have immigrated to Spain can visit this indoor skate park.
The Santa Barbara Church was originally a private church, designed in 1912 by the Asturian architect Manuel del Busto for several local merchants. However, during the Civil War in the 1930s, these merchants abandoned the church, and it remained vacant for decades. It was not until around 2000 that the church was purchased by an organization called the Church Brigade.
After discussions, the organization decided that this was the perfect place to convert into an indoor skate park. Subsequently, they gradually raised funds and sought various forms of help from friends. In 2012, this indoor skate park, named Kaos Temple, was finally opened to skating enthusiasts.
Given that the building was very old and its various facilities were not in great condition, the Church Brigade decided to launch an online fundraising campaign through the Spanish crowdfunding website Verkami. In the end, they raised a total of 24,514 euros (approximately 170,000 RMB), which was sufficient for the interior renovation.
Using these raised funds, along with help from official sponsors, the Church Brigade commissioned the artist Okuda San Miguel to renovate the interior structure of the church, including adding bright colors to make it more conducive for young skaters to practice. Miguel covered almost all the walls and ceilings with vivid geometric patterns, and natural light can also shine in through the skylights. In addition, the skylights are made of stained glass.
Geometric patterns full of modern art on the church walls
The top of the church
Several young people are roller skating