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65 Examples of Contemporary Church Architecture

From Inflated Chapels to Holistic Hybrid Homes

— February 25, 2015 — Art & Design
These examples of contemporary church architecture range from mountainside sanctuaries to minimalist chapels that provide one with a serene space for prayer and meditation. In today's tech and social media driven society, places of religious worship are scarcely over-populated, especially in busy urban centers.

Contemporary church architecture aims to enhance the experience of worshipers and marries tradition and history with modern design details. Standouts from this list include minimalist and angular churches that change the way one looks at a traditional place of worship. Other favorites include converted church projects that transform historical prayer spaces into offices or residential interiors.

Moreover, projects like kaleidoscopic and minimalist churches illustrate the opposing emphasis different cultures put on ornamentation and decor within their places of worship.
5.3
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
63
Sugary Sweet Solarium Designs
Sugary Sweet Solarium Designs
This Greenhouse Design is Made from Panels of Caramelized Sugar
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62
Foliage-Floored Worship Centers
Foliage-Floored Worship Centers
The Wow!grass! Living Carpet Graces the York Minster Cathedral
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61
Monochrome Church Facades
Monochrome Church Facades
JR's Inside Out Project Now Includes a Mural-Covered Church
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60
Divine Religious Restaurants
Divine Religious Restaurants
This Restaraunt by Piet Boon Puts Restaurant Goers in Food Heaven
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59
Symbolic Warped Church Windows
Symbolic Warped Church Windows
The Church of St. Martin in the Fields Has a New Abstract Design
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58
Neoclassical Crimson Chapels
Neoclassical Crimson Chapels
The Stedelijk Museum Schiedam Has Been Outfitted with a New Entrance
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57
Modern Victorian Lounges
Modern Victorian Lounges
The XO Bar by Jim Clemes Incorporates Baroque Paintings on the Ceiling
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56
Church Congregation-Inspired Structures
Church Congregation-Inspired Structures
The Szolnok Reformed Church by SAGRA is Spiritually Simple
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55
Kaleidoscopic Church Makeovers
Kaleidoscopic Church Makeovers
Hense’s Brilliant Color Installations Revives an Old Church
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54
Inflatable Churches
Inflatable Churches
Transparante Kerk is a Pop-Up Church That is the First of its Kind
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53
Cardboard Churches (UPDATE)
Cardboard Churches (UPDATE)
Christchurch's Cardboard Cathedral is Earthquake-Proof
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52
Renaissance-Inspired Wall Wraps
Renaissance-Inspired Wall Wraps
The Stone Angels Wallpaper is Classy and Religious
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51
Curvaceously Stripped Churches
Curvaceously Stripped Churches
The Ribbon Chapel by Hiroshi Nakamura is Modern and Minimalist
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50
Revitalized Austrian Chapels
Revitalized Austrian Chapels
HPSA Merges Office Space and Cultural Education with a Church
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49
Hand-Carved Cave Cathedrals
Hand-Carved Cave Cathedrals
Sculptor Ra Paulette Transforms Natural Settings into Works of Art
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48
Church-Renovated Libraries
Church-Renovated Libraries
The Monique Corriveau Library by CLC Architects is Bright and Airy
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47
Controversial Political Crucifixes
Controversial Political Crucifixes
The Thought-Provoking Michael Murphy Sculpture Shocks
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46
Refurbished Church Manors
Refurbished Church Manors
God's Loft by LKSVDD Architects Boasts Cheeky Religious References
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45
Angular Superhero Churches
Angular Superhero Churches
This Roadside Church Channels a Batman-Inspired Design
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44
Converted Cathedral Homes
Converted Cathedral Homes
The Hudson St by Bagnato Architects is a Repurposed 1892 Anglican Church
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43
Circular Hidden Santuaries
Circular Hidden Santuaries
The Cuernavaca Ecumenical Chapel by BNKR Arquitectura is a True Haven
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42
Former Church Offices
Former Church Offices
This Converted Office Space Used to be a Church
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41
Church-Based Workplaces
Church-Based Workplaces
This Historic Church Also Operates as the Imbull Flipit.com Office
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40
Shimmering Sacred Sanctuaries
Shimmering Sacred Sanctuaries
The Iceland Hallgrímskirkja Church Flickers as a Beacon
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39
Kaleidoscopic Church Designs
Kaleidoscopic Church Designs
The Gethsemane Lutheran Church Has a New Vibrant Look
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38
Captivating Contemporary Churches
Captivating Contemporary Churches
The Light of Life Chapel is an Epic Tribute to Modern Design
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37
Massive Modern Sanctuaries
Massive Modern Sanctuaries
The Neulsam Church Embodies Contemporary Design as a Concrete Monolith
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36
Midas-Touch Church-Toppers
Midas-Touch Church-Toppers
The Arch-Group and Sade Sarl Design a Futuristic Russian Church
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35
Chic Victorian Gothic Abodes
Chic Victorian Gothic Abodes
The 'Tin Chapel' is an Old Church Transformed Into a Stylish Home
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34
Captivating Luminous Cathedrals
Captivating Luminous Cathedrals
The Luminarie De Cagna is Blindingly Beautiful
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33
Converted Religious Loft Residences
Converted Religious Loft Residences
The Westbourne Grove Church by DOS Architects is Open and Airy
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32
Contemporary Crucifix Facades
Contemporary Crucifix Facades
The All Saints Chapel Takes the Pure and Symbolic Form of the Cross
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31
Almond-Shaped Wooden Churches
Almond-Shaped Wooden Churches
'Kamppi Chapel of Silence' by KS2 Architects is a Serene Escape
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30
Solemn Pyramid Chapels
Solemn Pyramid Chapels
The Funeral Chapel by Bayer & Strobel Architekten Boasts Inventive Design
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29
Renovated Holy Houses
Renovated Holy Houses
Zecc Architects Makes Old Church a Home With a Few Altarations
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28
Elegantly Restrained Churches
Elegantly Restrained Churches
Elsa Urquijo Architects Builds a White-Washed Church in Spain
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27
Sustainable Churches
Sustainable Churches
The Kuokkala Church in Finland is a Low-Impact House of Worship
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26
Cardboard Churches
Cardboard Churches
The 1864 Cathedral in New Zealand Will Be Rebuilt Out of Cardboard
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25
Nature-Integrated Chapels
Nature-Integrated Chapels
The Mik-a-el Chapel is One with the Environment
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24
Transparent Sacred Chapels
Transparent Sacred Chapels
The Gijs Van Vaerenbergh Church is Steel and See-Through
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23
Sparse Block Churches
Sparse Block Churches
Saint Francis Chapel by Rafael Hintersteiner Focuses on Peace and Goodness
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22
Industrial Arboreal Churches
Industrial Arboreal Churches
Forest Chapel Works Metal Material into Organic Architectural Forms
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21
Residential Houses of Worship
Residential Houses of Worship
Ruud Visser Architects Turn a Church into a Home Fit for Four
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20
Undulating Ceiling Chapels
Undulating Ceiling Chapels
The Prayer Chapel by Gensler Modernizes the Havens
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19
Spikey Seed Sanctuaries
Spikey Seed Sanctuaries
The Rosebud Orthodox Church Burgeons Like a Modern Bulb
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18
Organic Garden Chapels
Organic Garden Chapels
The Nanjing Wanjing Garden Chapel Features a Butterfly Roof
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17
Blessed Gothic Bars
Blessed Gothic Bars
The Spirito Martini Night Club Lets You Party in a Church
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16
Curved Contemporary Chapels
Curved Contemporary Chapels
St. Henry's Ecumenical Art Chapel is a Modern Worship Space
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15
Contemporary Sci-Fi Churches
Contemporary Sci-Fi Churches
The Chapel at Discovery Bay by Danny Cheng is Futuristic
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14
Upcycled God Homes
Upcycled God Homes
The St. Nicholas Church House is a Remodelled House of the Holy
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13
Sunken Scandinavian Sanctuaries
Sunken Scandinavian Sanctuaries
Vaaler Kirke Church is a New Take on an Old Architectural Language
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12
Barn-Inspired Chapels
Barn-Inspired Chapels
The Elspeet Church is Constructed From Local Wood Materials
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11
Holistic Hybrid Architecture
Holistic Hybrid Architecture
The Church of Sant Francesc Convent Fuses the Traditional and Modern
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10
Revamped Religious Interiors
Revamped Religious Interiors
The Bonney Avenue Residence is a Drastic Reno of an 1867 Church
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9
Remixed Chapel Concepts
Remixed Chapel Concepts
The Notre Dame Haiti Cathedral Modernizes a Classic Design
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8
Modern Minimalist Prayer Palaces
Modern Minimalist Prayer Palaces
Alfonso Architects Tampa Covenant Church
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7
Contemporary Church Sanctuaries
Contemporary Church Sanctuaries
The Funeral Chapel by Bayer and Strobel Architekten is Tranquil
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6
Curvy Contemporary Cathedrals
Curvy Contemporary Cathedrals
The San Josemaria Escriva Church Brings New Shape to Church Design
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5
Modern Faceted Mausoleums
Modern Faceted Mausoleums
The Panteon Nube Looks like a Contemporary Ice Cave
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4
Minimalist Church Designs
Minimalist Church Designs
The 'St. Moritz Church' is Now Sporting a Glorious Minimalist Design
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3
Curving Concrete Cathedrals
Curving Concrete Cathedrals
Church of Seed Offers a Place for Worship & Gathering
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2
Simple Sloping Sanctuaries
Simple Sloping Sanctuaries
The Skyscape Church is Sleek and Contemporary
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1
Angular Arboreal Sanctuaries
Angular Arboreal Sanctuaries
The Ecumenical Chapel by AOA Architects Branches Out to All
<