Church Reuse- Holy Books!
Dutch architects Merkx + Girod won the 2007 Lensvelt de Architect Interior Prize for their Boekhandel Selexyz Dominicanen in Maastricht – a chain bookstore inside an 800-year old former church. Architects were challenged to respect the original use and nature of the structure while creating enough commercial space for a viable business.
The prize jury said: “Merkx + Girod architects have created a contemporary bookshop in a former Dominican church, preserving the unique landmark setting. The church has been restored to its former glory and the utilities equipment has been housed in the extended cellar.â€
“In order to preserve the character of the church while achieving the desired commercial square footage, the architects erected a two-storey structure in black steel on one side, where the books are kept. Keeping the shop arrangement on the other side low created a clear and decipherable shop. The jury was very impressed by these spatial solutions, as well as by the gorgeous lighting plan. The combination of book complex and church interior were deemed particularly successful.â€
Costas Voyatzis on his blog ‘yatzer’ has more:
Merkx+Girod architects were asked by the Dutch booksellers Selexyz to convert the interior of the former Dominican Church in Maastricht into a modern bookstore. For the same client M+G had previously designed two bookstores in the cities of The hague and Almere. The unique location in Maastricht however asked for a very different approach.
The store demanded 1.200 square meters of commercial area where only 750 were available. The initial idea of the client to install a second floor within the church was rejected by the designers, because this would completely destroy the spatial qualities of the church. The solution was found in the creation of monumental walk-in bookcase spanning several floors and situated a-symmetrically in the church. In doing so the left side of the church remained empty while on the other side customers are lead upstairs in the three storey ‘Bookflat.’ Climbing thus becomes an experience and the reward lies in the close encounter with the ancient murals and stunning views. The ‘bookflat’ is a clear contemporary gesture, an independent statement, that also pays homage to the monumental church.
The groundfloor gives room to several different book displays, information desks, magazine stands and cash registers, all made of standard sheet materials in different colours and surfaces. The former altar now houses the ‘Coffeelovers’ café with a large central reading table shaped as a cross.
The Buffalo diocese has strict rules for the rental or sale of former churches and frowns upon commercial reuse such as retail, restaurants or entertainment. In addition, most if not all of the vacated churches are in neighborhoods with poor demographics or outside of proven commercial areas. Theoretically speaking then, would a bookstore be sacrilegious or a savior? How about a library?
Photos by Coolhunter.net
More photos on Flickr by Dwcama
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Comment Options
david
WCP....great post.
Always wondered about this conundrum. Diocese says on the one hand that, "the church is not about buildings" and then they slap on these archaic deed restrictions limiting re-use. Certainly some structures that are scheduled to be closed are way ahead of the market when it comes to any viable long term reuse, yet I'm wondering what's going to prevent Diocese from selling latest wave of churches to people/entities that aren't capable of performing. In the mean time, some serious moth-balling might be in order.
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kahawa
The Church could do Buffalo a big favor by freeing up these structures for nearly any use. This forum could also look to reuses of church buildings, particularly in Europe, that have been converted to mini-breweries, libraries, concert halls, and conference centers.
Good post, West Coast!
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chris69
If the diocese says that the church is not about buildings then catholocism is rotting from within and it has been since Vatican II.
Vatican II is when they replaced the 1000-500 years of classical music and chorals with hippie giutar music
Vatican II is when they banned the latin mass
and anyone who says that the church isnt in the building has forgotten the magic of praying in on of Buffalos soaring vaulted european churchs, of the almost womblike feeling of being surrounded by votice candles and the scent of incense. Talking to the priests of the many churchs I have prayed....they used to say....unlike other religions....once a catholic ... always a catholic.....born a catholic and die a catholic.....they heard it over and over. Alot of that unity with the catholic church and with the holy spirit came from those churches....and no...you dont get the same intimate feeling from a vinyl sided trailer that the church says is cheaper....yes its cheaper but its equally as sterile.
These churches exist nowhere else in the United States except for a few areas in the northeast and Great Lakes region. We cant get rid of these churches anymoer than we can get rid of the prudential building or the richardson.
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thisoldcrackhouse
Checkout the ultimate reincarnation at www.churchbrew.com Confession and a pint? I'm in...
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KittyKat
One would think that considering the financial hardships the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo has seen, and the likelyhood of their recently abanded suctures, going into disrepair. Noting the success of many of the old properties revitilized within the city, maybe recommendations could be made to their higher ups, so as to sell these structures to worthy canidates who would uphold the preservation of these treasures. As opposed to letting them fall to pieces and remind the nearby communities of what could have been!
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Hospitable
I've often wondered whether or not it would be a worthy financial endeavor... to buy one of these old church properties and dismantle it...piece by piece.. its not everyday you come across aged materials like this in such good condition. If it were financially viable... might the church consider deconstruction and resale?
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Sal
Timatbuffalo
There are many great re-uses for these beautiful properties, one being a mausoleum. I have often wondered with the use of land and the large expense of labor why with great buildings like these that they wouldn’t serve our people as places of rest. There would then be a trust to keep the maintenance of the property forever and with the high cost of mowing all the time, trimming and plowing. I am quite sure the neighbors would rather be inside to visit their departed in a magnificent structure than outside in the rain and cold. Cremation and internment in a beautiful urn or vault would allow a great deal of parishioners to stay in their neighborhood and families to visit comfortably. Give it some thought.
Merry Christmas!
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girlinthebuff
It's wonderful to see the reuse of a beautiful structure anywhere, I think it is too soon to believe that this could happen in Buffalo. First of all, most, if not all (?) of the churches that have been converted were properties not previously belonging to the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church has a long established history of red tape and backwards thinking. (For the record, I disagree that Vatican II was a counter-productive measure; it did alot to make the mass more accessible to its people. However, it did not go as far as it needed to (allowing priests to marry, female priests, etc.), which was a direct cause of the status of the Church today.) This lack of progressive thought, and the rise in suburban sprawl, directly led to the need to close these churches.
So, when these churches close, the Vatican will inevitably throw up its arms and cite deed restrictions as their reasons for not selling the properties for commercial use. Also, many of them are closing in less than ideal neighborhoods where, sadly, they will be left to rot, because no one will want to develop there.
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Frankenberry
With all the churches closing here in the city I would like Flying Bison to take over one of them for there new space. It worked for the Pittsburgh Church Brew Works! Why not here!
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RisingDamp666
Historically, churches have been used for the selling of "indulgences" and "salvation" in a kind of relaxed, open-air market environment. The revenues generated from these entrepreneurial activities not only funded the construction of more outlets of The Church, but satisfied the debts of many grateful individuals in their employ. Overall, that symbiosis benefitted the community as well as the souls of wealthy patrons, which at one time, may have been in doubt. The absurd refusal by the Catholic Church to return to these mercantile roots has resulted in their predictable decline and disuse. It's time the community rose up and insisted on restoring the guilt expiation economy before more churches are deconsecrated and turned into Jazzercise studios.
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BetterThanDetroit
RisingDamp666 - where have you been? Lead the movement before we lose the majority of our population to warmer, wealthier locations (such as Detroit) while the few remaining here live on Jeno's Pizza Rolls and Jim's Steak Hoagies, dying of heart attacks at 47. These people are cold fat atop chicken soup. Be the wooden spoon!!!
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BisonChipDip
I will convert these structures into indoor skate parks and bowling alleys.
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Joshua
ECB - The website of the brewery inside of the Church is absolutely amazming. I can imagine that happening here at Transfiguration or St. Girards on Bailey.
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