# Historic Office-Ready Chapels The Waterdog Project Transformed a 17th-Century Chapel into Offices By Ell Smith | Published 2018-03-27 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-waterdog References: [psfk](https://www.psfk.com/2018/03/belgian-architects-17th-century-chapel-modern-workspace.html) & [klaarchitectuur.be](http://www.klaarchitectuur.be/kapel-klaarchitectuur) A 17th century [chapel in Belgium](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chapel-cafe) has been transformed into a [modern work space](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kitaoka-group-office) following the success of a project called 'The Waterdog' which was undertaken by a architecture firm Klaarchitectuur. This transformation was no ordinary task as the firm had to meticulously plan every detail of the renovation to ensure that the site retained its status as a [historic landmark](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nyth), while still appearing modern, fresh and fit for an office. To achieve the end result, the architects added free-standing structures to the building's interior, instead of building on the existing ones. The modern structures blend with the building's original foundation making for a unique environment that can serve a variety of purposes. Image Credit: Klaarchitectuur bvba via Facebook ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.7/10 - Popularity: 17% | Activity: 26% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Architecture](https://www.trendhunter.com/architecture) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Historic Office-ready Chapels:** Opportunity for architecture firms to repurpose historic buildings into modern workspaces while preserving their historical significance. - **Meticulous Renovation Planning:** Importance of thorough planning and attention to detail in transforming historic landmarks into functional office spaces. - **Blending Modern and Historical Elements:** Innovative use of free-standing structures to seamlessly integrate modern design with the original foundation of historic chapels. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Architecture:** Architects have the opportunity to lead the way in repurposing historic structures into functional and aesthetically pleasing office spaces. - **Real Estate:** Real estate developers can explore the potential of transforming historic buildings into unique and desirable office spaces. - **Historical Preservation:** Historical preservation organizations can collaborate with architects to find innovative ways to preserve and repurpose historic chapels for contemporary use. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Rerfeshed Historic Workspaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cloisters-interiors.md) - [Moveable Wooden Office Facades](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/acvcscmetea.md) - [Brutalist Converted Learning Centers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/archipelago.md) - [Compact Urban Cafes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-chapel.md) - [Renovated Neo-Gothic Provostry](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/provostry.md) - [Art Gallery-Inspired Offices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/maniera.md) - [Building-Nestled Compact Cafes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chapel-cafe.md) - [Post Office-Transformed Apartments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/brest-post-office.md) - [Valley-Inspired Offices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kitaoka-group-office.md)