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
57
Holy Apartments
Zecc Architecten Converts Catholic Church to Living Space
56
Inflatable Church
Make Your Wedding Cheesy
55
Renovating Religion
Converted Churches as Homes
54
Revamped Religious Interiors
The Bonney Avenue Residence is a Drastic Reno of an 1867 Church
53
Otherworldly Places of Worship
Incredible Religious Architecture Inspires Piety
52
Spherical Photography Effects
Stellar Fantasy Worlds by Five Different Artists
51
Hip Gothic Church Hotels
Kruisherenhotel
50
Converted Church Homes
Religious Renovations
49
Human Bone Chapel
Sedlec Ossuary
48
Lego Replicas
Abston Church of Christ by Amy Hughes
47
Chic Victorian Gothic Abodes
The 'Tin Chapel' is an Old Church Transformed Into a Stylish Home
46
Renovating Religion Part II
Converted Churches as Hotels
45
Blessed Gothic Bars
The Spirito Martini Night Club Lets You Party in a Church
44
Spikey Seed Sanctuaries
The Rosebud Orthodox Church Burgeons Like a Modern Bulb
43
Converted Church Bookstores
The Boekhandel Seleyz Dominicanen is a Dazzling Literature Display
42
Minimalist Churches
Church of the Holy Cross Denmark
41
Residential Houses of Worship
Ruud Visser Architects Turn a Church into a Home Fit for Four
40
Awe-Inspiring Church Architecture
Incredible Places of Worship
39
Huge Holy Houses
Old Church Remodeled into the $7.5 Million 601 Dolores Street Home
38
Angular Arboreal Sanctuaries
The Ecumenical Chapel by AOA Architects Branches Out to All
37
Modernized Religious Institutions
The Holy Family Shrine is an Epic Place of Worship
36
Culinary Church Conversions
The White Rabbit Restaurant
35
Designer Churches
St. Bartholomew's Church by Maxim Velcovsky
34
Flamenco-Inspired Interiors
This Structure by Cheng Gong & Jinming Feng is Influenced by Dance
33
Curvy Contemporary Cathedrals
The San Josemaria Escriva Church Brings New Shape to Church Design
32
Renovating Religion Part III
Before and After Church to Home
31
Midas-Touch Church-Toppers
The Arch-Group and Sade Sarl Design a Futuristic Russian Church
30
Church-Like Incinerators
Erick Van Egeraat Creates the Most Striking Giant Garbage Burner Ever
29
Amored Churches
Religion's Think Tank Goes Literal
28
Rustic Woodland Churches
The Junquillos Chapel is a Picturesque Ecclesiastical Escape
27
Holy Homes
Converted Church Gives New Meaning to Living in the House of God
26
Modern Faceted Mausoleums
The Panteon Nube Looks like a Contemporary Ice Cave
25
Modern Minimalist Prayer Palaces
Alfonso Architects Tampa Covenant Church
24
Colossal Chocolate Churches
White Chocolate Dome of Milan Breaks World Record
23
Cardboard Churches
The 1864 Cathedral in New Zealand Will Be Rebuilt Out of Cardboard
22
Drive-Thru Churches
Chandler Christian Church in Arizona Opens 24/7 Prayer Booth
21
Home-Heating Churches
The Uspenski Cathedral Data Center Will Keep 500 Homes Warm
20
Boob Worship Churches
Pay Your Respects to Breasts at the Karube Shrine
19
Choo Choo Churches
Communities Put Abandoned Train Cars to Good Use
18
Renovated Holy Houses
Zecc Architects Makes Old Church a Home With a Few Altarations
17
Contemporary Concrete Churches
The Sta Columbina Chapel Offers Modern Simplicity
16
Twittering Churches
What Would Jesus Tweet?
15
Church on Youtube
Community Churches Get Digital
14
Illuminated Water Towers
Brunce Munro Gives Salisbury Cathedral a Luminous Makeover
13
Rainbow Churches
Salvation Army Citadel Corps Breaks with Construction Tradition
12
Bars as Churches
"Bars, Women & Fast Food" Exhibits the SoCal Social Scene
11
Transparent Sacred Chapels
The Gijs Van Vaerenbergh Church is Steel and See-Through
10
Seaworthy Churches
The Saint Vladimir Chapel Boat Sets Sail to Spread the Gospel
9
Sustainable Churches
The Kuokkala Church in Finland is a Low-Impact House of Worship
8
The Nazareth Cross
Buy Your Space on The World's Largest Cross
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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Subterranean Courtyard Galleries
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Illuminated Cave-Like Offices
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Sustainable Visitor Pavilions
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Church-Housed Art Galleries
Greg Mike Expands Beyond His Well-Known Street Art and Murals
Femininity-Exploring Boutique Hotels
Estudio Carroll Designs the Xique Boutique Hotel
Robust Monolithic Walled Homes
H Arquitectes Completes the Casa 1736 in Barcelona
Denmark Suburban Modern Churches
Rørbæk og Møller Arkitekter Designs the Trekoner Churck
Traditional Church-Inspired Stools
EJM Studios Nods to Churches with the Pew Stool Design
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Origin Made Spotlights the Spiral and Flight Sculptures
Organically designed Salon Interiors
Mariam Barrio Designs Natural Themes for Curly Lab's Salon
Geometric Prefabricated Pavilions
Heams & Michel Architectes Presents the 7 Kiosks Project
Temple-Inspired Sculptural Lighthouses
Gonzalo Lebrija Designs the Dynamic El Faro Lighthouse
Environmentally Blending Residences
A Threshold Studio Designs the Ineffable Light Home
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This Hill-Top Costa Rican Home is Inspired By Bird Plumage
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Prayer Room Government Offices
Agata Kurzela Studio Rewors a Floor of a Heritage Building
Picturesque Modern Holiday Homes
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Minimalist Bird-Watching Pavilions
Jesús Vassall & Graduate Students Designed a Slick Pavilion
Japanese Zen Garden-Inspired Stores
Barde vanVoltt Designs the Interiors of the Calico Club Store
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The 'Space Crystal' Building Looks Like An Otherworldly Rock
Converted Holiday Accommodations
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Brutalist Concrete Tower Apartments
Archmongers Renovates the Trellick Tower in London
Metal-Wrapped Exhibition Spaces
Trace Architecture Office Creates a Structural Steel Wrap
Barrel-Vaulted Roof Parks
Bear Architects Designs the Zubitegi Park in Spain
Refurbished Welcoming Churches
John Puttick Associates Refurbishes the St Leonard's Church
Community Hub Timber Pavilions
The Craft Not Carbon Pavilion Raises in London's Park
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Atelier Varun Goyal Designs the Modern Courtyard House
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TENKA ARKITEKTURA Designs a Stylish and Textured Apartment
Bridge-Defining Tranquil Cities
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Compact Calming Homes
Batay-Csorba Architects Masterfully Designed a Modern Brick Home in Toronto
Greenery-Filled Skyscraper Terrarium
ODA Presents a Look at the Terrarium Cheong-Dam Design
Perforated Brickwork Office Buildings
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Bright Colorful Converted Apartments
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Star-Shaped Structural Pavilions
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