Thursday
Jun232011
A larger slice of heaven
Thu, 23 Jun 2011
Remember the minimalist church conversion last week? Well the owners traded up ... to a bigger church. Again by Zecc Architects. (Thanks for the heads up Zecc.) Still the clean minimal lines with respect to the original structure. Look at those stained glass windows, the plaster work. It's a play on spatial qualities, lines of sight, the enclosed and the soaringly open, the secular and the religious remnants. Monkish in how spartan it is but elegant in its restraint. And if they trade up again will it be a cathedral?
Reader Comments (23)
I was praying you would post another church conversion (haha) and that artwork was just calling out pick me pick me (another haha).
Church conversions either totally work, or totally don't. This is in the latter category. Too white. Too sterile. Too...well, too nothing. Would have been interesting to see the before photo's, probably lots of wood, gorgeous shafts of light through the windows giving a golden gleam, maybe whitewashed walls - but not so determinedly white, and maybe some signs of human existence juxtaposed against the eternal. Whatever - would have been much better!
love it! the stairs are great! but yes... definitely too white.
what i want to know is why one family would need that much space. it seems excessive somehow, especially in light of the fact that churches are built to house multitudes. lovely to look at, but it makes me feel uncomfortable - it's simultaneously too much and not enough.
For whatever reason a church is no longer needed serving its original purpose, converting it into a family home is truly a beautiful alternative. ...and this particular conversion is a good example of what it should be done. Great inspiration!
Cheers,
Ewelina
Wow! That's crazy!
Not my cup of tea, but still striking. It seems like more of a showcase than a home. Don't care for the artwork.
Some beautiful elements, but a couple of paintings were really jarring in the church context - even a converted church! Maybe that was the effect the owners were going for.
Not really my cup of tea, either, but those windows (and doors) are stunning.
stunning to see all these spaces. love the clean minimal lines.
The stained glass windows are absolutely stunning. But I agree with what some others have said about it seeming just too vast for a single family home. I don't really know what they could have done differently to make it more appropriate. Probably homier decor, not quite so much white, more texture and color. I feel like this space could have made a fantastic office for a design firm or some other hip young company. Then the size wouldn't have seemed so odd. But despite all that, definitely interesting to look at as it is!
I love the doors and windows, but the place feels so void of character overall. I think that maybe what is bothering me is that I don't care for minimalist decor in such a large space....too empty. And that art is really creepy....
Is it me, or do the owners choice of art a deliberate insult to a church?
Dream home...................... sigh. :)
.....................and I really like the artwork. I understand that not a lot of people would choose to have an artwork of a man picking his nose but I am unsure as to why anyone would see it as an insult to the church. ??? There are many religious related artworks that would easily be more offensive if that's what the owners were striving for. My point is.......... I doubt that's what they were trying to achieve. :) Also: LOL to first comment. :)
I'm with Celeste ^ -- the (plug ugly, imo) artwork is chosen for its shock value. The place is postured for impact on visitors, but it makes an unappealing home.
I kind of like the space and the whiteness, so befitting for a former church. And yes, the artwork could do some improvement. Finally, it's really a place that one could really shout " Oh My God " !
Wow really nice interieur. I wish I had a church. I'd decorate it just as on this pics!
Grtz from Holland!
Works for me! I love to see the space - isn't that why you'd live in a church? For the height, and the classic proportions? This is a perfect conversion. I used to look at churches, and figure out how to live in them pretty much as is - of course, I did the same for elephant houses and warehouses! I'd probably go with a warmer white, but the monochromatic choices are gorgeous.
Absolutely stunning. The doors and windows are what sold me on this.
i really believe that each place has its own energy and i do not know what to say about living in a church which is no longer a church.anyway there is a hotel in Portugal which used to be a monastery it is called Pousada de Amares.
This is amazing, but very intimidating to decorate. So much space!!!
Old post, but gotta say:
This is amazing! I love it. Not the art, but Zecc did a great job.