Church Transformation
Dutch rural religious communities are in decline, leaving beautiful church buildings empty. The municipality of Volkel asked Urban Labs TU/e to explore the future scenarios for the fuction of Antonius Abtkerk.
Role and outcome
Basing on previously conducted research, I have drafted and developed plans, sections and visuals for the three possible scenarios for the church transformation, resulting in different spatial and functional arrangements. Hand drawn sketches were used to represent spaces in an efficient way. The results of the work were combined and presented in a report document.
Art direction: Marcel Musch, Urban Labs
A similar project
was developed for a church in Macharen.
In this future scenario, the building reflects the state of a declining religious practice, embracing its decline. The death of one spirit brings a rise to another: the building invites nature inside and becomes a local observatory of permaculture systems.
Sculptures and other heritage elements from the church were incorporated in the new design. The place identity remains its continuity, throughout transformation.
The project was awarded with an Honourable Mention for the Best Masterproject TU/e Urban Labs 2022