Coveted Crib: A Converted Chapel
I once brought you a cathedral converted to a bookstore which the general public could enjoy, but this Coveted Crib is a chapel converted to a private residence by Dutch architecture firm ZECC Architecten. ZECC, who once made a house with a water tower, are accustomed to working with unusual mediums. The converted chapel in question is located in Utrecht, Netherlands, and a single family now calls it home.
At its height, in the mid-20th century, the structure was part of a large housing complex for the Friars of Utrecht, housing a total of 217 residents. When 13 elderly friars moved to a nursing home, the complex was split up and converted into 40 apartments. According to Freshome:
"The design team chose to keep many of the original features like the high gothic stained glass windows and the original choir organ. To allow more light to enter the space, they cut a Mondrian-inspired glass window into the front of the house facing the street perhaps paying homage to Rietveld’s nearby infamous Schroder House. The entire living area has been whitewashed, while the private spaces above were painted dark."
The result is modern, stylish, sleek and maintains the original spatial qualities and historic and architectural elements that truly make the structure unique. To see the transformation, read more
