More than a simple conversion, this project unfolds as a poetic excavation of light and memory, honouring the building’s spiritual legacy while redefining its essence as a space of gathering.
Spanning the full depth of the site, the church provided a generous and resilient shell — a rare opportunity to sculpt light-filled volumes within the existing structure. Set slightly below street level, the home adopts a quietly introspective stance, enhancing its retreat-like atmosphere.
Organised into two symmetrical north-south units, the layout balances privacy with connection. Shared outdoor spaces — including the entryway, garage, courtyard, terraces and a rooftop urban farm — foster interaction between generations. At the heart of it all, the central courtyard becomes the project’s spatial and emotional anchor. By selectively removing sections of the original structure, daylight is drawn deep into the interior, revealing the honest beauty of exposed timber beams, steel framing and reclaimed brick — elements that speak to both continuity and care.
Upstairs, private bedrooms unfold within sculpted volumes that open onto communal terraces, embracing both solitude and shared experience. A double-height atrium near the entrance, flooded with light from a skylight and large window, visually connects the two levels. Adjacent to it, a Japanese maple planted in the courtyard serves as a natural screen, filtering views between the street and the primary bathroom.
The design speaks softly but with intention — privileging texture over colour, silence over excess. A material palette of limewash, microcement, raw timber and original masonry invites light to dance across surfaces, casting shadows that honour the layers of time. The result is a space both grounded and elevated, where architecture becomes a vessel for memory, connection and quiet beauty.