Modern luxury hotels built in abandoned churches

Recently, abandoned churches have had an unlikely saviour: the hotelier. Sure, it may not seem like a match made in heaven—sacred spaces serve a higher purpose, while hotels are hedonistic by design—but the typical church architecture of an open layout, vaulted ceilings, and walls of stained glass offers a distinct canvas for reinvention and a unique guest experience.

A handful of designers have recontextualized these spiritual spaces for secular indulgence. Here are just a few ancient sanctums transformed into accommodation by modern high design.

The Jaffa, Tel Aviv

Over a decade in the making—13 years, to be precise—the Jaffa, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Tel Aviv, opened in a 19th-century French hospital and monastery set alongside the Mediterranean Sea. Under the direction of British designer John Pawson and local architect Ramy Gill, the resulting 120-room hotel combines Roman Renaissance architecture with dashes of contemporary design. The dual architect team recalls the pair of original architects, Grebez and Ribellet, sent by Louis V of France.

The pièce de résistance, a neo-Roman-style chapel, was restored and reimagined as the hotel’s lounge. Scraping away layers of plaster, the restoration revealed patterned walls, not to mention original stained glass, checkered tiles, and stonework (some of it dating back to the 12th century). These have been left exposed to honour the structure’s age, all punctuated with Cini Boeri chairs, rendered in plush pinks and mustards to match the church’s original paintwork, in contrast to the dignified vaulted ceilings.

August, Antwerp

Uniting five historic buildings within a former Augustinian cloister, the aptly named August hotel is the latest opening in Antwerp’s flourishing Groen Kwartier (Green Quarter). Here, Belgian architect Vincent Van Duysen’s renovation ushered in the opening of the former enclave’s doors to the community and visitors. The convent’s former chambers, now 44 guest rooms, are a meditation on restraint. Adorned simply with handwoven Portuguese rugs and light linens, they’re complemented by views of the cloister’s manicured walled gardens, while suites have views of the site’s private chapel.

But the chapel isn’t just for looks: it serves as the hotel’s lounge. Here, the dramatic domed ceiling, repainted in jet black, deflects the gaze from the heavens towards new spirits: instead of an altar, patrons will find a well-stocked bar.

Read more courtesy of Nuovo

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