In Asturias, Spain, a 103-year-old church lay abandoned for years. It was crumbling due to the neglect, and the beautiful architecture and decorations were largely forgotten.
It might have been doomed for demolition, but instead, it got an amazing second chance at life. But it's not exactly a church anymore.
Thanks to some online fundraising and a sponsorship from Red Bull, a group calling themselves the "Church Brigade" adopted the building and turned it into an indoor skate park.
The church was repaired and skating surfaces were installed, and it even got a new name: La Iglesia Skate, or Skate Church.
After all, with some time, money, and dedication, any old building can turn into something amazing. Just because it's a bit shabby doesn't mean it can't be great again! In fact, sometimes they can be even better, just like one woman's house after an amazing makeover.
And for some extra color, artist Okuda San Miguel painted colorful, geometric murals all over the walls and ceilings, turning it into a kaleidoscope of colors and shapes.
Check it out below, and see what a little determination and artistry can do for a run-down building.
(H/T: Colossal)
This beautiful old building, left to years of neglect, was falling apart.
It was doomed for demolition — until the "Church Brigade" came along with a brilliant way to honor the old church: by transforming it into a skate park!
Leaving the original architectural details, the church was filled with these vibrant murals featuring faces, animals, and geometric forms.
The contrast between the classic architecture and the modern artwork is just gorgeous!
The bright paintings make you appreciate the architecture, and vice versa.
And the murals aren't just on the walls, either. The church's vaulted ceilings got the artistic treatment, too, with these large, mystical faces peering down.
Okuda calls his murals in the Iglesia Skate Kaos Temple, and he raised the funds online to get his painting project — one of his largest — off the ground.
He also received funding from Red Bull, and wanted it to be a place of community and expression.
Here's what the interior looked like before the painting. As you can see, it was pretty drab. But Okuda, seen here, saw the potential.
Using spray paint, scaffoldings, and plenty of skill, Okuda and his team installed the murals. Think of it as a modern take on Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel!
Okuda says he's inspired by modern art and its geometrical forms, but also by nature and organic shapes. You can see these inspirations in his paintings.
He says that as far as meaning goes, people should look at them and determine their own meanings.
Then curved flooring was installed where the pews would have gone. This shape is used by skaters to perfect jumps and tricks.
In the apse, where the altar would have been, a seating area was set up so people could gather, meet, and talk.
The Church Brigade wanted to bring new life into the beautiful old building, and make a new kind of community space that celebrated creativity, teamwork, and, of course, doing really cool tricks on a skateboard.
It might not be the most traditional, but it's a great way to celebrate an otherwise forgotten, crumbling building, and make it a place for people to gather once again.
Watch Okuda talk about his art and his philosophies in the video below:
You can see more of Okuda's work on his website, as well as on his Facebook and Instagram.
You can also see some more great before-and-after images of the church on the Church Brigade website and Instagram.
If you love offbeat restorations and brilliant murals, SHARE this amazing artwork with your friends!
