Here at TCH, we’ve been noticing architects around the world
are transforming church buildings into various types of structures
including houses, retail stores, libraries, and well, cooler
churches.



After successfully converting a water tower into a living space, Marnix
Van Der Meer and Rolf Bruggink’s Utrecht-based architecture studio,
Zecc has done it again – this time perhaps a little more
controversial. Here they transformed an old chapel into a
spacious house – carefully respecting and enhancing the character of
the original building.



The design team chose to keep many of the original features – including
the high gothic stained glass windows and the original choir organ. To
allow more light to enter the space, they cut a Mondrian-inspired glass
window into the front of the house facing the street – perhaps paying
homage to Rietveld’s nearby infamous Schroder House. The entire living
area has been whitewashed, while the private spaces above were painted
dark.



And only 100 miles away in Maastricht an 800 year old Dominican church
was transformed into the newest addition to the Selexyz book store
chain – the Selexyz Dominicanen – housing an impressive collection of
books not only in Dutch, but in English as well.

The challenge for the Amsterdam based architects Merkx + Girod was staying true to the original character and charm of the church, while
also achieving a desirable amount of commercial space. A
multi-storey steel structure that houses the majority of the books was
constructed and placed along the central nave of the church under the
vaulted ceiling.



Located in Finland in the Ostrobothnia region, near the campus of
Helsinki University on the eastern side of the city, JKMM Architects won a national competition to design the Vikkii Urban Centre. The focal
point of the Centre is a church clad in aspen shingles that have turned
grey since construction was completed in 2005. Throughout Europe
new church design is not synonymous with modernity, so when the Parish
of Helsinki approached the architects at JKMM, they welcomed the
opportunity to contribute to a newly developed urban area housing
approximately 13,000 residents.



Many Scandinavian churches serve as civic spaces for the surrounding
community to gather. Of course sacral characteristics are still
present, and the Viikki Church’s central space and adjoining
congregation hall have a light-filled cathedral-like appearance. The
architects chose wood for practically every surface of the interior
space as well: oaken doors, spruce ceiling and walls, and aspen
furniture allow the congregation to feel as though they are gathering
within a forest. Large windows open the space even further onto
the surrounding landscape of the countryside. The church does not
sit in isolation, however a new market was built to the north and an
urban park sits to the south.



Divisive as it may be to alter houses built for God, these architects
do not need to preach to the choir about their immaculate conceptions
in renovations, we’re sold.






via The Cool Hunter