Glory, glory! Photo: Zecc Architecten
I'd never dreamed of living in an abandoned church -- until now. After tweeting about this renovated church from Zecc Architecten last week, I can't get the clean, white space out of my mind. There's nothing I love more than a smart renovation, and this church-turned residence is certainly clever.
Living in this loft would be an almost religious experience! Photo: Zecc Architecten
Most striking is the choice of almost all-white interior surfaces. The furnishings and decor are kept minimalistic and abstract, which keeps the architecture itself at the forefront as the defining feature of the space. The lines of these modern designs and the classic shape of the original chapel contrast with one another beautifully.
A truly angelic transformation. Photo: Zecc Architecten
I'd say this home redefines the phrase "living on a prayer," wouldn't you agree?
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Reader comments (Page 1 of 2)
You're in my prayers
What a shame, to take a beautiful structure and strip all the warmth and heart out of it, Modern can be beautiful, but this is just cold and sterile. I don't think anyone who enters this home feels a sense of calm, comfort and coziness, that discribes what coming home at the end of a hard day should feel like. Did the architect and home owner aim to look like a museum or hospital? The echo must be deafning, somebody give these people some rugs and artwork please! Does anyone really live this way?
ReplyThis home is beautiful and full of art! I would feel at peace there. Why isn't there a photo of the bedroom? The bathroom is different from the rest of the house, dark.
I think maybe you missed that this is in the Netherlands--its a very European aesthetic, and very typical. Most Europeans, since they live surrounded by very old buildings, tend toward very sleek and modern interiors. Trust me, when you live for a week in a space like this, you will come home and wonder why you live with so much clutter. I really like how they kept the integrity of the building but adapted the space to make it clean and sleek.
This is a beautiful home. I would live there in a heartbeat. As far as the art, there is ART throughout the home, e.g. the stained glass windows. There is no need for anything else to be on the walls. Would you have rather had the old structure torn down?
There are many THOUSANDS of churches across Europe that have been converted to homes, office buildings and museums. Christianity is slowly dying, and these churches will become the fossilized remains within another couple of hundred years at this rate.
I know! We can write a song about people living in a church. What would we call it?
How about "Alices Restaurant."
Very impressive!!!!!!! Love the staircase.
ReplyI too live in a church. We took an ugly 1964 church {Church of the Nazarene} and turned it into our home. We still have some renovations left as we didn't know what we wanted to do with the Alter area. We have decided to build a huge fireplace on the elevated area where the Alter was located. It has been a work in progress project for 5 years now but completion is near. Flat screen TV's everywhere and a huge 16' diagonal LCD projection system in the Great Room. Nothing like a lot of open space!!!
I'd love to have just one room in a home that looks like a church, a prayer room, kind of like my Greek Orthodox Grandmother had. It was a small little closet...literally.
ReplyThere's a church home like tis in Center Harbor, NH behind Keepsake Quilting. You all should do an article on it.
ReplyThere are many converted churches into houses in the area of Pennsylvania that we live in. My husband and I live in a renovated schoolhouse. We love the spaciousness and huge windows!
ReplyWHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT IS THE FACT IT WASN'T "BULLDOZED", COMPLETELY "GUTTED' AND STILL KEPT THE BEAUTY OF IT AND ESPECIALLY STILL PAYS HOMAGE TO OUR LORD IN A TATSTEFUL FASHION THAT I BELIEVE HE WOULD FIND NICE,
ReplyI agree with Andrew. I have been to Europe a few times. It tends to be cloudy in many areas and they use a lot of white. I love the clean, minimalist, modern look. I really didn't appreciate it until I went there. We have a friend who is from the Netherlands and the cloudy days are hard on you after awhile.
ReplyWhat about codes?? that stair as beautiful as it is does not pass even remotely with international building codes....As an architect i would love to build creations that have no boundries...unfortunately as part of my professional..I am bound to simple things like life safety and codes...not sure people would have there 3 year old play on that....
ReplyI can't imagine what a miserable life you must have. So negative, so much disrespect for other's beliefs. Sometimes, what our mothers taught us are really true...
ReplyTreat others like you wish to be treated..
Silence is golden..
Look on the sunny side..
I pray that the Lord blesses you with goodness.
Not crazy about it, way too cold and sterile. I've been in ORs that have more warmth and comfort than this home. This space has the potential to be absolutely beautiful, and what does this designer do, stip it completely of all feeling, character and personality. ANYONE could have come up with this icebox of a home. All I can say is that I'm glad I'm not the one that has to live in this. If nothing else I can't even begin to imagine what the echo bouncing around the house is like. There's not one single piece of fabric that I can see in the whole place. Hope the bedroom at least has linens and not leather like the sofa. Geez.....what a place!
ReplyI went into a lovely church--now lovely restaurant--but I couldn't help feeling that we are loosing something important. Perhaps we should work at true restoration to original function.
ReplyI think it'd be cool to do a conversion like this.
ReplyWhile I am a preservationist, I do respect some moderniziation.
However,.......in alot of ways......this is a shame it was so modernized and not really in keeping of its original character. I suppose alot of interior architectural furnishings were lost granting the players involved with modernizing the place. Hopefully, at least, the interior remnants were recycled for another use....keeping with the Green Era of recycling.....!
I wish I could find a church to remodel as a house. I've looked for one for years.
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