Comments on: Church converted into magnificent bookstore http://boingboing.net/2009/09/23/church-converted-int.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:36:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Diatryma http://boingboing.net/2009/09/23/church-converted-int.html#comment-595458 Diatryma Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-595458 I stalled at the picture and the words 'walk-in bookcase'. Gorgeous. I stalled at the picture and the words ‘walk-in bookcase’. Gorgeous.

]]> By: chillitom http://boingboing.net/2009/09/23/church-converted-int.html#comment-735235 chillitom Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-735235 @Orpheus84 - Yay for St Werburghs! Another great church conversion. @Orpheus84 – Yay for St Werburghs! Another great church conversion.

]]> By: weaponx http://boingboing.net/2009/09/23/church-converted-int.html#comment-595460 weaponx Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-595460 Looks like the Bible has been moved out of non-fiction. Looks like the Bible has been moved out of non-fiction.

]]> By: Moriarty http://boingboing.net/2009/09/23/church-converted-int.html#comment-595717 Moriarty Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-595717 Some might see the steel as clashing or jarring, some might see it as a nice complement. I would have to see it in person to make up my mind. The thing about this kind of Gothic architecture like this is that it's a delicate tension between between massive strength and ethereal airiness. An exposed steel skeleton might preserve that sense of space, but a bulky masonry box would wreck it. But of course, that's all subjective... Some might see the steel as clashing or jarring, some might see it as a nice complement. I would have to see it in person to make up my mind. The thing about this kind of Gothic architecture like this is that it’s a delicate tension between between massive strength and ethereal airiness. An exposed steel skeleton might preserve that sense of space, but a bulky masonry box would wreck it. But of course, that’s all subjective…

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/23/church-converted-int.html#comment-595718 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-595718 Quite brilliant place. It's a shame there's so many people visiting it (it's rapidly becoming a victim to its own success) Quite brilliant place.

It’s a shame there’s so many people visiting it (it’s rapidly becoming a victim to its own success)

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2009/09/23/church-converted-int.html#comment-595719 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-595719 <i>It astonishes me that so many architects find them so appealing.</i> Once you've studied architecture, you tend to look at everything in terms of structure. Also, attempts to build 'new' in the same style as 'old' frequently look horribly Disneyesque. It astonishes me that so many architects find them so appealing.

Once you’ve studied architecture, you tend to look at everything in terms of structure. Also, attempts to build ‘new’ in the same style as ‘old’ frequently look horribly Disneyesque.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/23/church-converted-int.html#comment-597000 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-597000 @Kimmo Tithes and legacies. How is that anything like slave labor? @Kimmo

Tithes and legacies. How is that anything like slave labor?

]]> By: coop http://boingboing.net/2009/09/23/church-converted-int.html#comment-595474 coop Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-595474 Now that's an impressive melding of ancient and modern. Nice to see that it was the client (not the designer) who insisted on saving the building. Good work all around. coop Now that’s an impressive melding of ancient and modern.

Nice to see that it was the client (not the designer) who insisted on saving the building.

Good work all around.

coop

]]> By: dculberson http://boingboing.net/2009/09/23/church-converted-int.html#comment-595475 dculberson Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-595475 Coop, set the average architect loose and they'll gut and tear down almost anything. This is beautiful. Coop, set the average architect loose and they’ll gut and tear down almost anything.

This is beautiful.

]]> By: Xopher http://boingboing.net/2009/09/23/church-converted-int.html#comment-595732 Xopher Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-595732 Brainspore, depends on who did it. If it was people from the same culture, perhaps not. They might say it's sad, as some in this thread have done, but culturally insensitive? Not so much. It's not like the Netherlands has been taken over by a people of a different religion than the people who built the church, unless you count their less-reverent descendants in that way. Also, I don't know about Buddhist temples or Mosques, but there is a process for deconsecrating a church when it's no longer used, so it can be put to secular use. And that process isn't new. Brainspore, depends on who did it. If it was people from the same culture, perhaps not. They might say it’s sad, as some in this thread have done, but culturally insensitive? Not so much. It’s not like the Netherlands has been taken over by a people of a different religion than the people who built the church, unless you count their less-reverent descendants in that way.

Also, I don’t know about Buddhist temples or Mosques, but there is a process for deconsecrating a church when it’s no longer used, so it can be put to secular use. And that process isn’t new.

]]> By: arkizzle / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2009/09/23/church-converted-int.html#comment-595733 arkizzle / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-595733 Tasteless, you say? I was going to post the <i>Beds Beds Beds!</i> showroom (on the NorthEnd Road in London), as an example of how not to do a church conversion. However, the only photos I can find are promo shots on their website, and they look a damn site better than the outside does in reality. http://www.beds.ltd.uk/images/contact_1.jpg http://www.beds.ltd.uk/ Tasteless, you say?

I was going to post the Beds Beds Beds! showroom (on the NorthEnd Road in London), as an example of how not to do a church conversion.

However, the only photos I can find are promo shots on their website, and they look a damn site better than the outside does in reality.

http://www.beds.ltd.uk/images/contact_1.jpg
http://www.beds.ltd.uk/

]]> By: Brainspore http://boingboing.net/2009/09/23/church-converted-int.html#comment-595481 Brainspore Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-595481 Too bad they only sell one book. Too bad they only sell one book.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/23/church-converted-int.html#comment-595483 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-595483 Mmmmm .. book porn! Mmmmm .. book porn!

]]> By: Pixel23 http://boingboing.net/2009/09/23/church-converted-int.html#comment-595490 Pixel23 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-595490 Coop, I think you might have misread the article. The designers were the one's who rejected the client's initial idea of just sticking a second floor in the cavernous space. "The initial idea of the client to install a second floor within the church was rejected by the designers" The monumental bookshelf is an amazing solution to the design challenge and the space is wonderfully inspiring. Though I do wonder if the cost of the project and the cost of maintaining such a space will be financially viable for the bookstore in the long run. Books are not high-margin items, and such a space might encourage more browsing than buying. Perhaps that's the idea behind the coffee bar in the last photo. Coffee and food might be their real business. Coop, I think you might have misread the article. The designers were the one’s who rejected the client’s initial idea of just sticking a second floor in the cavernous space.

“The initial idea of the client to install a second floor within the church was rejected by the designers”

The monumental bookshelf is an amazing solution to the design challenge and the space is wonderfully inspiring. Though I do wonder if the cost of the project and the cost of maintaining such a space will be financially viable for the bookstore in the long run. Books are not high-margin items, and such a space might encourage more browsing than buying. Perhaps that’s the idea behind the coffee bar in the last photo. Coffee and food might be their real business.

]]> By: Hal http://boingboing.net/2009/09/23/church-converted-int.html#comment-595491 Hal Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-595491 @4 Coop "Nice to see that it was the client (not the designer) who insisted on saving the building." don't know how you are getting that from the article. the client wanted to divide the space horizontally - the designers proposed the solution featured. @4 Coop “Nice to see that it was the client (not the designer) who insisted on saving the building.”

don’t know how you are getting that from the article. the client wanted to divide the space horizontally – the designers proposed the solution featured.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/23/church-converted-int.html#comment-595492 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-595492 Wonderful ! Wonderful !

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/23/church-converted-int.html#comment-595493 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-595493 Simply awesome! Simply awesome!

]]> By: Gloria http://boingboing.net/2009/09/23/church-converted-int.html#comment-595750 Gloria Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-595750 @45: Wouldn't say so. I wouldn't be outraged because Buddhist temples and Muslim mosques themselves are often quite flexible in what form they might take. I've seen temples and mosques plonked in warehouses, abandoned stores, whatever they can find. While I still have a deep love for Christian architecture, this approach, with its lack of emphasis on physical details, is refreshing. Re: the use of steel/metal in churches, I agree a more sensitive style could have been used. I distinctly remember a 19th-century church (French?) whose supports were a mix of iron and stone. The iron arches and columns was slender, curvy, and gentle, with leaf and vine motifs -- the point of which was to prove that metal could serve architecture as well as engineering, and seem light and airy. I can't remember the architect or the name of the church. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? @45: Wouldn’t say so. I wouldn’t be outraged because Buddhist temples and Muslim mosques themselves are often quite flexible in what form they might take. I’ve seen temples and mosques plonked in warehouses, abandoned stores, whatever they can find.

While I still have a deep love for Christian architecture, this approach, with its lack of emphasis on physical details, is refreshing.

Re: the use of steel/metal in churches, I agree a more sensitive style could have been used. I distinctly remember a 19th-century church (French?) whose supports were a mix of iron and stone. The iron arches and columns was slender, curvy, and gentle, with leaf and vine motifs — the point of which was to prove that metal could serve architecture as well as engineering, and seem light and airy.

I can’t remember the architect or the name of the church. Does anyone know what I’m talking about?

]]> By: Comatose51 http://boingboing.net/2009/09/23/church-converted-int.html#comment-595498 Comatose51 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-595498 Yale's Sterling Memorial Library is like that as well: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterling_Memorial_Library At first I thought the pictures were of Sterling because they look so similar. Yale’s Sterling Memorial Library is like that as well:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterling_Memorial_Library

At first I thought the pictures were of Sterling because they look so similar.

]]> By: oriste http://boingboing.net/2009/09/23/church-converted-int.html#comment-595499 oriste Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-595499 I visited that bookstore in March this year and took some (highly amateurish) pictures with my iPhone. You can see them on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/oriste/sets/72157616024411850/ I especially like the view from the top bookcase looking out over the former choir, now the coffee corner, that's quite dramatic. The "Dominikanerkerk" in Maastricht has lost its original function over 200 hundred years ago and has been used since then for a wide variety of alternative purposes: snake exhibitions, carnival parties, bicycle parking, esoteric gatherings, antique market, etc... I visited that bookstore in March this year and took some (highly amateurish) pictures with my iPhone. You can see them on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/oriste/sets/72157616024411850/
I especially like the view from the top bookcase looking out over the former choir, now the coffee corner, that’s quite dramatic.
The “Dominikanerkerk” in Maastricht has lost its original function over 200 hundred years ago and has been used since then for a wide variety of alternative purposes: snake exhibitions, carnival parties, bicycle parking, esoteric gatherings, antique market, etc…

]]> By: ratcity http://boingboing.net/2009/09/23/church-converted-int.html#comment-595507 ratcity Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-595507 "house of ignorance" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0FiCxZKuv8 “house of ignorance”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0FiCxZKuv8

]]> By: Ben Morris http://boingboing.net/2009/09/23/church-converted-int.html#comment-595510 Ben Morris Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-595510 It seems people have already said "best possible use for a church" and "walk-in bookcase!", so all I can add is that the photographer has done the most amazing job at capturing the lighting there. The whole thing is absolutely beautiful. It seems people have already said “best possible use for a church” and “walk-in bookcase!”, so all I can add is that the photographer has done the most amazing job at capturing the lighting there.

The whole thing is absolutely beautiful.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/23/church-converted-int.html#comment-597046 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-597046 for those people thinking it should be a museum or something: there are a LOT of museums in the Netherlands already. In Fact almost every church in the country can be visited or is used as something besides being church. A few months back i walked past one that was playing a ABBA musical :D complete with disco lights try the stained glass windows. The previous use of this church was bicycle parking. This has to be a step up! MaMaybe adadditionaloint: old buildings are really common over here, i lived in a student frat house that was in a building somewhere from the 1890's and thats pretty common. I think the oldest building still in use here is from 1380something. (that is a museum although that has nothing to do with the building)) for those people thinking it should be a museum or something: there are a LOT of museums in the Netherlands already. In Fact almost every church in the country can be visited or is used as something besides being church. A few months back i walked past one that was playing a ABBA musical :D complete with disco lights try the stained glass windows. The previous use of this church was bicycle parking. This has to be a step up!

MaMaybe adadditionaloint: old buildings are really common over here, i lived in a student frat house that was in a building somewhere from the 1890′s and thats pretty common. I think the oldest building still in use here is from 1380something. (that is a museum although that has nothing to do with the building))

]]> By: Crunchbird http://boingboing.net/2009/09/23/church-converted-int.html#comment-595768 Crunchbird Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-595768 <i>there is a process for deconsecrating a church when it's no longer used, so it can be put to secular use. And that process isn't new.</i> Indeed, and as someone pointed out up-thread, this particular church has been deconsecrated for 200 years or more. In all likelihood, its previous uses were much less respectful of the space and the tradition that created it (carnival parties? snake exhibitions?). And in more direct response to Brainspore, it would be nice if you could find even a <i>single</i> example of the type of hypocrisy you're decrying before you run around accusing the BB commenters of suffering from it. there is a process for deconsecrating a church when it’s no longer used, so it can be put to secular use. And that process isn’t new.

Indeed, and as someone pointed out up-thread, this particular church has been deconsecrated for 200 years or more. In all likelihood, its previous uses were much less respectful of the space and the tradition that created it (carnival parties? snake exhibitions?).

And in more direct response to Brainspore, it would be nice if you could find even a single example of the type of hypocrisy you’re decrying before you run around accusing the BB commenters of suffering from it.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/23/church-converted-int.html#comment-596287 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-596287 reminds me of Mare Nostrum, a super-computer housed in a Barcelona chapel: http://gizmodo.com/293608/marenostrum-the-worlds-most-gorgeous-super+computer reminds me of Mare Nostrum, a super-computer housed in a Barcelona chapel:

http://gizmodo.com/293608/marenostrum-the-worlds-most-gorgeous-super+computer

]]> By: bcsizemo http://boingboing.net/2009/09/23/church-converted-int.html#comment-595535 bcsizemo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-595535 I like the use of the space, but wonder if something less modern might have been more appropriate. The steel and wire mesh just seem to clash with the stonework. Maybe more organic materials, like wood or rock (or even fake rock)... Just my opinion. At least they didn't tear it down. The ultimate in recycling = reuse. I like the use of the space, but wonder if something less modern might have been more appropriate.

The steel and wire mesh just seem to clash with the stonework. Maybe more organic materials, like wood or rock (or even fake rock)… Just my opinion. At least they didn’t tear it down.

The ultimate in recycling = reuse.

]]> By: Versh http://boingboing.net/2009/09/23/church-converted-int.html#comment-595536 Versh Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-595536 Finally the vaulted heights meant to inspire awe can be applied to something worthwhile like human achievement and knowledge. All the decades of effort to construct the church is suddenly vindicated. Brilliant solution with rejecting the 2nd floor Merkx+Girod. Finally the vaulted heights meant to inspire awe can be applied to something worthwhile like human achievement and knowledge. All the decades of effort to construct the church is suddenly vindicated.

Brilliant solution with rejecting the 2nd floor Merkx+Girod.

]]> By: Kimmo http://boingboing.net/2009/09/23/church-converted-int.html#comment-596048 Kimmo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-596048 To those who moan about animosity directed towards religion, consider the heinous subjugation and exploitation required to construct all these gorgeous monuments to utter dominion. The difference between such churches and the pyramids is mostly just one of scale. You can stick your fingers in your ears and go lalalala, but this issue is inherent to the subject of repurposing a church; there is a grimly obscene flipside to the beauty. To pretend otherwise is to forsake the countless victims of an all too worldly power structure revoltingly allowed to call itself divine. I'm only sorry it wasn't turned into a public library rather than a bookshop. To those who moan about animosity directed towards religion, consider the heinous subjugation and exploitation required to construct all these gorgeous monuments to utter dominion. The difference between such churches and the pyramids is mostly just one of scale. You can stick your fingers in your ears and go lalalala, but this issue is inherent to the subject of repurposing a church; there is a grimly obscene flipside to the beauty.

To pretend otherwise is to forsake the countless victims of an all too worldly power structure revoltingly allowed to call itself divine.

I’m only sorry it wasn’t turned into a public library rather than a bookshop.

]]> By: thequickbrownfox http://boingboing.net/2009/09/23/church-converted-int.html#comment-596054 thequickbrownfox Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-596054 Frickin' awful! Looks like that modular edifice from Half Life 2 that gradually encroaches on other buildings. Frickin’ awful!

Looks like that modular edifice from Half Life 2 that gradually encroaches on other buildings.

]]> By: westy48 http://boingboing.net/2009/09/23/church-converted-int.html#comment-595546 westy48 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-595546 Barter Books in Alnwick, UK is in a disused railway station. It's very cool. http://www.barterbooks.co.uk/ They're very much a part of the revival of the Keep Calm and Carry On poster. http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=%22barter+books%22&s=int Barter Books in Alnwick, UK is in a disused railway station. It’s very cool.

http://www.barterbooks.co.uk/

They’re very much a part of the revival of the Keep Calm and Carry On poster.

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=%22barter+books%22&s=int

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