These clever churches are sure to pique your interest even if you're not a devote Christian. In recent years religious architecture has taken a modern and creative turn. Abandoning the usual peaks and spires, these sensational sanctuaries are true stunners. Soothing, serene and dazzling, these curious chapels are sure to capture your interest.
From curvaceous nail-less churches to technicolor temples, religious spaces have undergone an intriguing facelift. Exciting and visually stimulating, these clever churches may inspire you to say a prayer or two. A few pious environments have found a second life and purpose after being transformed into chic living spaces or rowdy bars. Lending their classic religious styling to unlikely surroundings, these converted temples are quirky and awe-inspiring.
Intriguing, creative and gorgeous, these clever churches look like they were heaven sent.
58 Clever Churches
From Transparent Sacred Chapels to Spikey Seed Sanctuaries:
Susan Keefe — Jan 31, 2012 — Art & Design
54
Holy Apartments
Zecc Architecten Converts Catholic Church to Living Space
53
Inflatable Church
Make Your Wedding Cheesy
52
Renovating Religion
Converted Churches as Homes
51
Revamped Religious Interiors
The Bonney Avenue Residence is a Drastic Reno of an 1867 Church
50
Otherworldly Places of Worship
Incredible Religious Architecture Inspires Piety
49
Spherical Photography Effects
Stellar Fantasy Worlds by Five Different Artists
48
Hip Gothic Church Hotels
Kruisherenhotel
47
Converted Church Homes
Religious Renovations
46
Human Bone Chapel
Sedlec Ossuary
45
Lego Replicas
Abston Church of Christ by Amy Hughes
44
Chic Victorian Gothic Abodes
The 'Tin Chapel' is an Old Church Transformed Into a Stylish Home
43
Renovating Religion Part II
Converted Churches as Hotels
42
Blessed Gothic Bars
The Spirito Martini Night Club Lets You Party in a Church
41
Spikey Seed Sanctuaries
The Rosebud Orthodox Church Burgeons Like a Modern Bulb
40
Converted Church Bookstores
The Boekhandel Seleyz Dominicanen is a Dazzling Literature Display
39
Minimalist Churches
Church of the Holy Cross Denmark
38
Residential Houses of Worship
Ruud Visser Architects Turn a Church into a Home Fit for Four
37
Awe-Inspiring Church Architecture
Incredible Places of Worship
36
Huge Holy Houses
Old Church Remodeled into the $7.5 Million 601 Dolores Street Home
35
Angular Arboreal Sanctuaries
The Ecumenical Chapel by AOA Architects Branches Out to All
34
Modernized Religious Institutions
The Holy Family Shrine is an Epic Place of Worship
33
Culinary Church Conversions
The White Rabbit Restaurant
32
Flamenco-Inspired Interiors
This Structure by Cheng Gong & Jinming Feng is Influenced by Dance
31
Curvy Contemporary Cathedrals
The San Josemaria Escriva Church Brings New Shape to Church Design
30
Renovating Religion Part III
Before and After Church to Home
29
Midas-Touch Church-Toppers
The Arch-Group and Sade Sarl Design a Futuristic Russian Church
28
Church-Like Incinerators
Erick Van Egeraat Creates the Most Striking Giant Garbage Burner Ever
27
Amored Churches
Religion's Think Tank Goes Literal
26
Rustic Woodland Churches
The Junquillos Chapel is a Picturesque Ecclesiastical Escape
25
Holy Homes
Converted Church Gives New Meaning to Living in the House of God
24
Modern Faceted Mausoleums
The Panteon Nube Looks like a Contemporary Ice Cave
23
Modern Minimalist Prayer Palaces
Alfonso Architects Tampa Covenant Church
22
Colossal Chocolate Churches
White Chocolate Dome of Milan Breaks World Record
21
Cardboard Churches
The 1864 Cathedral in New Zealand Will Be Rebuilt Out of Cardboard
20
Drive-Thru Churches
Chandler Christian Church in Arizona Opens 24/7 Prayer Booth
19
Home-Heating Churches
The Uspenski Cathedral Data Center Will Keep 500 Homes Warm
18
Boob Worship Churches
Pay Your Respects to Breasts at the Karube Shrine
17
Choo Choo Churches
Communities Put Abandoned Train Cars to Good Use
16
Renovated Holy Houses
Zecc Architects Makes Old Church a Home With a Few Altarations
15
Contemporary Concrete Churches
The Sta Columbina Chapel Offers Modern Simplicity
14
Twittering Churches
What Would Jesus Tweet?
13
Illuminated Water Towers
Brunce Munro Gives Salisbury Cathedral a Luminous Makeover
12
Rainbow Churches
Salvation Army Citadel Corps Breaks with Construction Tradition
11
Bars as Churches
"Bars, Women & Fast Food" Exhibits the SoCal Social Scene
10
Transparent Sacred Chapels
The Gijs Van Vaerenbergh Church is Steel and See-Through
9
Seaworthy Churches
The Saint Vladimir Chapel Boat Sets Sail to Spread the Gospel
8
Sustainable Churches
The Kuokkala Church in Finland is a Low-Impact House of Worship
7
White Stripe Churches
The Zhongguancun Christian Church is China's Largest
6
Inflatable Churches
Transparante Kerk is a Pop-Up Church That is the First of its Kind
5
Sculptural Religious Sanctuaries
The Martin Luther Church Focuses on Light and Transparency
4
Yellow Brick Buildings
The Broadcasting Place Would Even Impress The Wizard of Oz
3
Criss-Crossing Churches
The Church of the Resurrection by Nothing Studio
2
First Catholic Church Opens in Qatar
Sign of the Times
1
Architecturally Atypical Churches
These Places of Worship Show Inspired Innovation
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Glassbrick Apartment by Studio Karhard Alters a Flat with Nightclub DNA
Modern Cultural Institutions
Centre SANAAQ Opened in Montreal's Peter-Mcgill District
Playful Children's Library Designs
Studio Vapore Creates a Whimsical Children's Library
Ultra-Colorful High-Density Residential Designs
Ballistic Architecture Machine Applies Color
Eclectic Bistro Designs
Luke Edward Hall Designs Deux Gares Express Café with British-French Flair
Circular Clubhouse Structures
Taller Ezequiel Aguilar Martínez Designs the La Pedrera Clubhouse
Riverside Café Interiors
Watchhouse Thames Café Features a Ceiling Inspired by St Paul’s Dome
Renewed Urban Rooftops
The Heineken Seoul Rooftop Turns Unused Rooftops into Community Spaces
Elegantly Minimalist Retail Environments
Entre Quatre Murs Designs the Klozet Boutique
Shape‑shifting Retreats
This Modular Off‑Grid House Adapts to Natural Sites with Expandable Walls
Artistically Expressive Multi-Brand Stores
Sanjay Puri Architects Has Redefined Retail Design
Pointy Modular Hospitality Architecture
Roman & Dmytro Seliuk Designs the Futuristic Namety Cabins
Montreal-Based Welcome Centers
Lemay Designs a Pavilion for Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal
Soviet-Inspired Café Interiors
Aqqu Café by AT Interiors References Soviet-Era Architectural Forms
Spiritually Inspired Artisanal Lamps
The TRIRIS Lamp Blends Sacred Form with Artisanal Detail
Cultural Civic Landmarks
The Ismaili Center Houston by Farshid Moussavi Fuse Tradition & Modernity
Honest Sustainability-Focused Installations
Temple (The Last Cheeseburger) is Thought-Provoking
Courtyard Brick Houses
The Threshold House by Madras Spaces Uses Simple Rural Materials
Vibrantly Artful Playful Pavilions
Peter Cook Presents the Play Pavilion Using LEGO Bricks
Curved Coffee Shop Designs
Yuko Nagayama & Associates Design the AOI CELESTIE Coffee Roastery
Artful Sculptural Umbrella Stands
Inbetween Umbrella Stand Soaks Rain & Elevates a Mundane Moment
Curved Green Roof-Topped Museums
Atelier Alter Architects Designs the Sunner Museum in China
Rerfeshed Historic Workspaces
Daytrip’s Cloisters Interiors Boasts Modern Furniture Design
Protest Sand Architecture
The Bland Castles Installation Turns Beach into Critique of Urban Design
Waterfall Cafe Pavilions
Ellipsis Cafe Bar by SML Studio Brings Light to a Compact Vancouver Site
Bright Attic Sanctuaries
The FOKSAL Home Features Mirrored Skylights in Warsaw
Architecturally Stunning Cultural Landmarks
OPEN Architecture Designs the Functional Sun Tower
Tranquil Courtyard Homes
The Sanctum House by Renesa Creates a Calm Interior World Using Geometry
Artful Sculptural Bistros
Holy Carrot by Studio Toogood Reworks a Spitalfields Restaurant
Timber Monastery Campuses
Plum Village Buddhist Monastery Forms a Low Rise Religious Complex
Modern Blue-Accented Academic Buildings
Taktik Design Has Revitalized the Marie Esther Pavilion
Sustainable Educational Architecture Projects
CURA Architekten Presents a Project in Switzerland
Contemplative Steel Sanctuaries
Doshi Retreat Opens at Vitra Campus in Weil Am Rhein
Creative Office Campuses
Mother’s LA Headquarters Echoes the Surrounding Streetscape
Elevated Budget-Friendly Hotel Designs
Ester Bruzkus Architekten Designs Münster Ibis Budget Hotel
Tranquil Courtyard Homes
The Cupertino Courtyard House by SHED Architecture Highlights Serenity
Protein-Inspired Architecture
Folded Protein Molecule Research & Exhibition Rethinks Structure
Church-Centered Chair Designs
Henning Larsen Designs the Ekko Chair for New Denmark Church
Sustainable Retail Interiors
Sheep Inc London Store Uses Sculptural Displays & Graphic Art
Ancient Gymnasium-Inspired Residential Buildings
Triptyque and Architects Office Build AGE360
Sculptural Mall Dreamscape
Studio Proba Introduces Unbounded Sanctuary in Grand Joy City Mall
Futuristic Cultural Spaces
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Arts Blends Form with Civic Imagination
Organic Cliffside Retreats
The Intaaya Retreat by Pablo Luna Studio Draws on Oceanic Forms
Contemporary Garden Pavilions
This Garden Pavilion Reframes a 1990s Home with Calm, Modern Living
Artfully Functional Lights
Lee Broom’s Chant Lights Blend Divinity with Everyday Design
Organic Coastal Homes
Diachok Architects' Coastal Villa Brings Sculptural Living to Brisbane
Temple-Inspired Residences
J Kidman Architecture's Temple House Frames a Home with Ceremonial Form
Contemporary Office Design
The Rock Capital Warsaw Office Highlights Art in a Refined Workplace
Mandala-Shaped Meditation Halls
Mahamudra Meditation Centre Anchors in Local Materials and Craft
Red Roof-Topped Irish Buildings
A1 Architects Completes the Design of the Gate Lodge
Sustainable Dome Villas
The Belalu Dome Villa Offers Sustainable Charm Wrapped in Organic Form
Curvaceous Restaurant Interiors
4SPACE Boasts an Extraordinary Cultural & Architectural Statement
Interactive Architectural Pavilions
The Folding Landscape Pavilion Turns Design into a Living Lens
Renovated Kyiv Boutiques
HE.D Group Reshapes Kyiv’s LBtM Shop with Light and Poetic Details
Illuminated Curved Home Extensions
Cereus House Blends Heritage with Luminous Curved Additions
Geometric Jewelry Architecture
Nikos Koulis Boutique Interior Look Nods to Its Sculptural Jewelry
Modern Embassy Conversions
The Rosewood Chancery Hotel Reimagines London’s Former US Embassy
Tranquil Clinic Interior Designs
Studio Gimgeosil Shapes Palo Verde Aesthetic with Soft Green Hues
Compact Civic Workspaces
The Stroud Green Housing Centre Creates a Modest Community Hub
Brick Community Churches
Sædalen Kirke by Koht Arkitekter Balances Worship and Community Life
Reimagined Commercial Spaces
Cure Nailhouse is a Redesigned Nail Salon Interior by Duett Interiors
Exclusivity-Promoting Sophisticated Interior Designs
The Historic Club Saint-Denis is Elevated
Spiral Multipurpose Village Hubs
Sanjay Puri Architects Present the Nokha Village Community Centre
Industrial Food Hall Revivals
The Pullman Market Adaptive Reuse Design Revitalizes a Glass Factory
Layered Amenity Offices
The Bell Tower by Ste Marie Transforms Workplace into Amenity Spaces
Sophisticated Government Office Designs
Agata Kurzela Tackles a Heritage Building in Abu Dhabi
Sacred Timber Chapels
Julius Nielsen's Tiny Church Tolvkanten Redefines Sacred Architecture
Lakeside Modern Art Museums
David Chipperfield Architects Designs the Muzej Lah in Slovenia
Mushroom-Like Wooden Pavilions
The Carbon Garden Pavilion at Kew Gardens Nods to natural science
Toronto Healing Shelters
Anduhyaun Emergency Shelter Nods to Indigenous Traditions to Aid Recovery
Reflective Memorial Architecture
Sanctum of Trees Reinterprets Tamil Temple Ritual in a Monolith
Community Hall Interiors
Sangha Bhawan is a Jain Community Hall Featuring Banarasi Brocade Panels
Education Architecture Expansions
Rainbow International School Extends with Nature Spatial Design
Hillside Concrete Retreats
This Concrete House Blends Sculptural Form with Panoramic Views
Historic Roof Conversions
Brick to Light Renovates a Former Barracks House in Münster
Pearl-Inspired Museums
Dubai Museum of Art by Tadao Ando Evokes Water, Light and Heritage
Relaxing Layered Spa Interiors
Yuspa Spa by Fog Architecture Unfolds Through Curved Volumes
Bright Creative Office Hubs
This Sauvage TV Office Supports Collaboration with Flow and Light
Intimate High-Altitude Cottages
The AltiHut Cottages Expand Mountain Refuge Ecosystem
Civic Theatre Renovations
The Court Theatre Anchors Community and Craft Through Architecture
Modern Multi-Generational Family Residences
StudioAC Gives a Historic Toronto Church a New Life
Curved Concrete Chapels
Design Alliance Architects Creates Chapel of the Risen Christ Project
Rink-Turned Creative Hubs
Colorado College Honnen Arts Hub Reimagines Former Ice Arena as a Hub
Stone Building Auditoriums
The Centre De Congrès Fuses Sculpture with Immersive Color and Light
Ceramic Vault Structures
The Muqarnas Pavilion Shows a Modular Approach to Vaulted Form
Senior Housing Projects
The Ellen Browning Building by Hacker Architects Brings Ribbed Cladding
Courtyard Connection Designs
StudioAC Designs Pale Cedar Duplex for Multi-Generational Living
Wedge-Shaped Stealthy Cottages
Barbora Vokac Taylor Architect Designs a New Gabled House
Sculptural Cultural Hubs
AYDC Public Art Centre by Atelier XI Integrates Nature, Art, & Community
Former Embassy Showrooms
Temp Project Renovates a Former Embassy Building into Retail Interior
Speculative Shelter Builds
Asympta by Leopold Banchini Architects Explores Ancient Landscapes
Reflection-Encouraging Cohesive Churches
Henning Larsen Designs the Højvangen Church
Converted Church Art Centers
Nyth Turns a Victorian Church into a Creative Space for Young People
Sculptural Inverted Homes
Fala Atelier’s Porto House Flips a Roof for an Expressive Architecture
Modern Tuscan Chapel Homes
The Pailunga Tuscan Chapel Transforms into a Contemporary Living Space
Cohesive Modern Workspace Studios
The Studio and Workspace of Unorthodox Designs is Collaborative
Architecturally Striking Cooking Schools
Chiangmai Life Architects Design the Bull Cooking School
Organic Spiral Pavilions
The Pasona Natureverse Pavilion by Design Labo Explores the Cycle of Life
Cultural Green Libraries
The Taichung Green Museumbrary by SANAA Weaves Architecture and Nature
Lake-Inspired Retail Interiors
Studio Gypsandconcrete Designed a Gift Shop Around Reflected Water
Blooming Clustered Art Forms
The Structural Botany Installation Honors Organic Repetition and Form
Thatched Roof Wildlife Retreats
Ma+rs Serenity Retreat Anchors Hillside Residence in New Zealand
Building-Nestled Compact Cafes
A Triangular Prism Chapel Cafe Creates Calm in Bucharest
Mobile Glass Libraries
La Libreria Brings Transparent Architecture to Underserved Neighborhoods
Thoughtfully Contemporary Museum Designs
Innauer-Matt Architekten Designs the Museum Bezau
Textured Glass Landmarks
Helsinki Design and Architecture Museum Designed as Clear Public Pavilion
Earthened Architecture Pavilions
Khalil Morad El Ghilali & El Mehdi Belyasmine Design a Pavilion
Vaulted Pink Complexes
Babel Housing Mexico by V Taller is a Sculptural Tower with Vaulted Design
Coastal Courtyard Homes
The Patio House Residence Transforms a Cliffside Plot into a Retreat
Contemporary Library Designs
JSWD Architects Presents the Brühl City Hall and Library
Curved Green Towers
The Island Introduces Gaudi-Inspired Balconies to a Residential Building
Immersive Light Exhibits
Spencer Finch Exhibition Maps Time and Place Through Color and Light
Forest Sanctuary Homes
The Sadowski House near Warsaw Showcases a Modern Forest Retreat
Cultural Exhibition Spaces
Espace Gabrielle Chanel by Kazunari Sakamoto Blends Art and Heritage
Local Geological History-Inspired Buildings
Salon Alper Derinbogaz Designs the Quartz Plaza
Concrete Grid-Forward Commrcial Towers
TRIPTYQUE Has Designed Inspira SP
Chapel Lodge Conversions
Chapel Lodge by Foster + Partners Reimagines an Oxford Chapel Building
Pink Fluted Concrete Apartments
Nudes Clads the Rendezvous Apartment in Pink Tonal Concrete
Clay Ridge Residences
The Birdwood House Reimagines Subtropical Living Through Sustainable Design
Architecturally Illuminated Structures
Puri Lighting Design Presents the Zhangbei Mirage Project
High-Rise Design Renos
The Watergate Pied-à-Terre Renovation Boasts Mid-Century Curves
All-Yellow Leisure Spaces
Maxim Kashin Architects' Yellow Pavilion is Bold and Eye-Catching
Retro-Rich Kraków Apartment
Colorful Character Defines This Apartment for Expressive Living
Slender Alley Dwelling Revivals
The Brown House Uses Ecological Materials to Redefine Urban Infill
Lambeth Palace Restorations
Wright & Wright Refurbihes the Archbishop’s Historic Residence
Terracotta Concrete Community Centers
Fernanda Canales Designs Iztapalapa PILARES Community Center
Hillside Timber Chapels
Bull O’Sullivan Architecture Designs the Chapel of St Thérèse of Lisieux
Contemporary Culture Hubs
The Tselinny Center by Asif Khan Redefines Public Space Through Design
Rounded Communal Pavilions
Casa Wabi Mushroom Pavilion by Oma Cultivates Fungi and Community
Concrete Arts School Buildings
Visual Arts Building by Studio BLUR Forms Sculptural Volumes
Low-Impact Garden Dwellings
The Senior Shelter Offers a Connected Space for Aging Family Members
Compact Urban Cafes
The Chapel by Vinklu Transforms a Bucharest Lot into a Narrow Coffee Shop
Wave-Inspired Civic Halls
The Sail Congress Centre in Big Normandy Curves into Public Architecture
Inverted Boat Chapels
La Barca is an Award-Winning Chapel Shaped Like an Upside-Down Boat
Courtyard Apartment Conversions
BekArch Transforms a Bakery Workshop into a Prague Apartment
Terraced Urban Landmarks
The Go Park Sai Sha Bringsvarious Elements Together in a Sculptural Hub
Evocative Mid-Century Stores
The House of Nikos Koulis Athens Boasts Sleek Architectural Gesture
National Park Visitor Centers
Arkís Architects Designs an Icelandic National Park Visitor Center
Tranquil Round Pavilions
The Round Pavilion Creates a Serene Retreat in Suzhou Expo Park
Adaptive Restaurant Interiors
The Motorino Restaurant Adapts a Chapel with Spatial Sequences