A Heavenly Home in a 16th-Century Church Seeks €1.6M in Northern Spain

A formerly abandoned chapel in Basque country has been brilliantly transformed by Garmendia Cordero Arquitectos.

A Heavenly Home in a 16th-Century Church Seeks €1.6M in Northern Spain

A formerly abandoned chapel in Basque country has been brilliantly transformed by Garmendia Cordero Arquitectos.

Large glass doors sweep ample natural light inside while also encouraging indoor/outdoor living.

On the edge of a green ravine in Spain’s northern Basque country, the Chapel House was a crumbling, 16th-century church when the current owner, Tas Careaga, bought it and enlisted his friend, architect Carlos Garmendia, to turn it into a contemporary home. The structure had been abandoned since the late 1970s, and the renovation would take three years, ultimately landing in the pages of Dwell.

"I need you. I bought a f*cking church!" With this blunt text message to his friend, architect Carlos Garmendia of Garmendia Cordero Arquitectos, Tas Careaga kicked off a three-year design adventure. Here’s the exterior of the 16th-century Basque church near Bilbao, Spain.

The 16th-century Basque church that Tas Careaga and architect Carlos Garmendia converted sits in the small town of Sopuerta, Spain, about a half hour west of Bilbao. The lush lot is flanked by a wooded hillside.

Photo by Gregori Civera

Inside, polished cement lines the ground level, contrasting with the structure's centuries-old stone and plaster. An open-tread staircase leads to the two-story loft.

Inside, polished cement floors cover the ground level, contrasting with the structure’s centuries-old stone and plaster. An open-tread staircase leads to the two-story loft.

Photo courtesy of The Singular Space. Extraordinary Properties

"[Tas] has done a breathtaking job of blending Renaissance and modern aesthetics, creating a thoroughly contemporary living space with an exalted and meditative atmosphere," says listing agent Ana Vela. "This is a truly unique home that will captivate artists and art-lovers alike." 

The well-lit kitchen sits in the apse and features a central island, as well as custom cabinetry.

The kitchen, which boasts custom cabinetry, occupies the apse.

Photo courtesy of The Singular Space. Extraordinary Properties

See the full story on Dwell.com: A Heavenly Home in a 16th-Century Church Seeks €1.6M in Northern Spain
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