The Spanish Church of Santa Barbara located in Llanera, Asturias, was originally designed by Austrian architect Manuel del Busto in 1912. For years the church has been vacant and presented severe deterioration from decades of abandonment but, the skate collective Church Brigade decided to do something about it. “It was pretty much in ruins when we started the project,” said Ernesto Fernández Rey founder of Church brigade. “The walls were stained, the paint was peeling and there was dust everywhere.”
Financed by an online fundraising together with the energy drink giant Red Bull, Church Brigade came together with the Spanish street artist Okuda San Miguel who volunteered to bring some color and art to the walls of the former church. “I fell in love right away,” said the artist that found out about the project through the internet.
With the help of three assistants and one week of intense work, San Miguel finished (in his own words) his personal Sistine chapel, his masterpiece. It preserved the original architecture while renewing the inside, giving the site a new meaning. The interior of the church now is decorated by vividly colored images featuring beautiful geometric patterns, skull, animal and human figures and faces. The ramps came in right afterward, making an amazing counterpoint to the vaulted ceiling crowning this unique skate park.
Outside there is nothing that distinguishes this small little church but, inside it is a one of a kind amazingly looking skate park with beautiful artwork that brought back life to the site. Bravo, I’m in love with Kaos Temple!
