Residential Church XL by Zecc Architects Exclusive Home Design

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Residential Church XL by Zecc Architects

Posted June 1st, 2011 by Patrick Eldershaw No Comments »

Saint Jakobus Church was originally built in 1870. Located in The Netherlands city of Utrecht, it stood abandoned for some time. When church ceremonies and operations ceased in 1991, it was used sparingly as a showroom for antique furniture and concerts and special events. In 2007, Zecc Architects proposed a residential conversion to restore life back into this historical monument. City approval was granted, and the Resident Church XL was completed in 2009. With the partial removal of this floor, interesting sight lines were underlined and light could further penetrate in the ground floor. Underneath the manipulated floor, a study room and a bathroom were placed. The vacant spaces function as a sort of inner patios, which also divide the living space on the first floor into different areas. The modern residential volume is completely detached from the old church building and can be regarded as a temporary “resident” of the historical church. The circulation space meanders through the volume and connects the open front whit the rear of the church where the altar once stood. The rear part of the living area houses the kitchen block, standing on its own. To strengthen the relationship with the backyard and to provide additional daylight at the dining area, three new glass fronts were created. The sleek glass-facades are distinguished from the other windows in the facades, placed in an oblique position towards the façade. The church exterior was fully preserved and daylight and natural light comes in through the original stained-glass windows. The exceptional quality of this project is that the church has been transformed into one dwelling keeping not only its unity but also its individuality.