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58 Clever Churches

From Transparent Sacred Chapels to Spikey Seed Sanctuaries

— January 31, 2012 — Art & Design
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.
6.5
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
57
Church-Like Incinerators
Church-Like Incinerators
Erick Van Egeraat Creates the Most Striking Giant Garbage Burner Ever
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56
Illuminated Water Towers
Illuminated Water Towers
Brunce Munro Gives Salisbury Cathedral a Luminous Makeover
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55
Seaworthy Churches
Seaworthy Churches
The Saint Vladimir Chapel Boat Sets Sail to Spread the Gospel
<
54
Church on Youtube
Church on Youtube
Community Churches Get Digital
<
53
Bars as Churches
Bars as Churches
"Bars, Women & Fast Food" Exhibits the SoCal Social Scene
<
52
The Nazareth Cross
The Nazareth Cross
Buy Your Space on The World's Largest Cross
<
51
First Catholic Church Opens in Qatar
First Catholic Church Opens in Qatar
Sign of the Times
<
50
Home-Heating Churches
Home-Heating Churches
The Uspenski Cathedral Data Center Will Keep 500 Homes Warm
<
49
Inflatable Churches
Inflatable Churches
Transparante Kerk is a Pop-Up Church That is the First of its Kind
<
48
Twittering Churches
Twittering Churches
What Would Jesus Tweet?
<
47
Colossal Chocolate Churches
Colossal Chocolate Churches
White Chocolate Dome of Milan Breaks World Record
<
46
Yellow Brick Buildings
Yellow Brick Buildings
The Broadcasting Place Would Even Impress The Wizard of Oz
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45
Drive-Thru Churches
Drive-Thru Churches
Chandler Christian Church in Arizona Opens 24/7 Prayer Booth
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44
Flamenco-Inspired Interiors
Flamenco-Inspired Interiors
This Structure by Cheng Gong & Jinming Feng is Influenced by Dance
<
43
Choo Choo Churches
Choo Choo Churches
Communities Put Abandoned Train Cars to Good Use
<
42
Amored Churches
Amored Churches
Religion's Think Tank Goes Literal
<
41
Huge Holy Houses
Huge Holy Houses
Old Church Remodeled into the $7.5 Million 601 Dolores Street Home
<
40
Human Bone Chapel
Human Bone Chapel
Sedlec Ossuary
<
39
Sculptural Religious Sanctuaries
Sculptural Religious Sanctuaries
The Martin Luther Church Focuses on Light and Transparency
<
38
Midas-Touch Church-Toppers
Midas-Touch Church-Toppers
The Arch-Group and Sade Sarl Design a Futuristic Russian Church
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37
Chic Victorian Gothic Abodes
Chic Victorian Gothic Abodes
The 'Tin Chapel' is an Old Church Transformed Into a Stylish Home
<
36
Rainbow Churches
Rainbow Churches
Salvation Army Citadel Corps Breaks with Construction Tradition
<
35
Renovated Holy Houses
Renovated Holy Houses
Zecc Architects Makes Old Church a Home With a Few Altarations
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34
Sustainable Churches
Sustainable Churches
The Kuokkala Church in Finland is a Low-Impact House of Worship
<
33
Criss-Crossing Churches
Criss-Crossing Churches
The Church of the Resurrection by Nothing Studio
<
32
Cardboard Churches
Cardboard Churches
The 1864 Cathedral in New Zealand Will Be Rebuilt Out of Cardboard
<
31
Hip Gothic Church Hotels
Hip Gothic Church Hotels
Kruisherenhotel
<
30
Renovating Religion Part III
Renovating Religion Part III
Before and After Church to Home
<
29
Transparent Sacred Chapels
Transparent Sacred Chapels
The Gijs Van Vaerenbergh Church is Steel and See-Through
<
28
Residential Houses of Worship
Residential Houses of Worship
Ruud Visser Architects Turn a Church into a Home Fit for Four
<
27
Designer Churches
Designer Churches
St. Bartholomew's Church by Maxim Velcovsky
<
26
Holy Homes
Holy Homes
Converted Church Gives New Meaning to Living in the House of God
<
25
Spikey Seed Sanctuaries
Spikey Seed Sanctuaries
The Rosebud Orthodox Church Burgeons Like a Modern Bulb
<
24
Awe-Inspiring Church Architecture
Awe-Inspiring Church Architecture
Incredible Places of Worship
<
23
Blessed Gothic Bars
Blessed Gothic Bars
The Spirito Martini Night Club Lets You Party in a Church
<
22
Converted Church Bookstores
Converted Church Bookstores
The Boekhandel Seleyz Dominicanen is a Dazzling Literature Display
<
21
Inflatable Church
Inflatable Church
Make Your Wedding Cheesy
<
20
Renovating Religion Part II
Renovating Religion Part II
Converted Churches as Hotels
<
19
Contemporary Concrete Churches
Contemporary Concrete Churches
The Sta Columbina Chapel Offers Modern Simplicity
<
18
Architecturally Atypical Churches
Architecturally Atypical Churches
These Places of Worship Show Inspired Innovation
<
17
Lego Replicas
Lego Replicas
Abston Church of Christ by Amy Hughes
<
16
Spherical Photography Effects
Spherical Photography Effects
Stellar Fantasy Worlds by Five Different Artists
<
15
Holy Apartments
Holy Apartments
Zecc Architecten Converts Catholic Church to Living Space
<
14
Culinary Church Conversions
Culinary Church Conversions
The White Rabbit Restaurant
<
13
Revamped Religious Interiors
Revamped Religious Interiors
The Bonney Avenue Residence is a Drastic Reno of an 1867 Church
<
12
Modern Minimalist Prayer Palaces
Modern Minimalist Prayer Palaces
Alfonso Architects Tampa Covenant Church
<
11
Curvy Contemporary Cathedrals
Curvy Contemporary Cathedrals
The San Josemaria Escriva Church Brings New Shape to Church Design
<
10
Boob Worship Churches
Boob Worship Churches
Pay Your Respects to Breasts at the Karube Shrine
<
9
White Stripe Churches
White Stripe Churches
The Zhongguancun Christian Church is China's Largest
<
8
Modernized Religious Institutions
Modernized Religious Institutions
The Holy Family Shrine is an Epic Place of Worship
<
7
Modern Faceted Mausoleums
Modern Faceted Mausoleums
The Panteon Nube Looks like a Contemporary Ice Cave
<
6
Rustic Woodland Churches
Rustic Woodland Churches
The Junquillos Chapel is a Picturesque Ecclesiastical Escape
<
5
Minimalist Churches
Minimalist Churches
Church of the Holy Cross Denmark
<
4
Otherworldly Places of Worship
Otherworldly Places of Worship
Incredible Religious Architecture Inspires Piety
<
3
Renovating Religion
Renovating Religion
Converted Churches as Homes
<
2
Converted Church Homes
Converted Church Homes
Religious Renovations
<
1
Angular Arboreal Sanctuaries
Angular Arboreal Sanctuaries
The Ecumenical Chapel by AOA Architects Branches Out to All
<