The adaptive reuse of underutilized chapels in Gozo

Abstract

The adaptive reuse of chapels in Gozo is a direct response to the observed decline in church attendance and the evolving community dynamics, an issue seen throughout Europe. The underutilization of chapels in Gozo is used to explore how they can be revitalized to address todays’ social and cultural needs while maintaining their significance. Through the use of an online survey questionnaire with the Gozitan public and interviews with ecclesiastical staff, qualitative and quantitative data was gathered. Key themes such as ‘sense of belonging’ , ‘aid in preserving heritage’ and ‘continuation of original function along with new’ , emerged. The raw data was coded and analyzed using ATLAS.ti 25, revealing insights into public perceptions, risks and opportunities for adaptive reuse. The results from both methods indicated that, rather than implementing drastic changes, efforts should focus on enhancing the existing architecture to accommodate uses that support the continuation of heritage and evolving traditions. It was concluded that any proposed changes must respect the local context and community. By engaging the core community in management and decision-making, the narrative of these sacred places can continue, fostering a renewed sense of belonging and purpose in Gozo. These chapels hold potential for more intimate, communal events, due to their size, along with their historical and heritage significance and their role in preserving local identity. Reuse was identified as a solution that could preserve this heritage and limit abandonment. Survey responses revealed that cultural and educational uses were the most favoured, followed by community and charitable uses, while the interviewees preferred community and charitable uses. The interviewees also suggested the use of adjoining chapel rooms, or exploring ways to respect the sacredness of the space while still using it. De-consecration was discussed as a possible route, albeit a less desirable one, for both Gozitans and the ecclesiastical staff. Therefore, these chapels hold unique potential that can be realized through a nuanced understanding of their context. With the appropriate reuse criteria and community-led management, they can be thoughtfully reimagined. This study hopes to create a basis for future research and similar endeavours with underutilized heritage sites.