Old fashioned rail station turned into modern home

Leave it to the Dutch to be creative and turn an obsolete crumbling old building into a truly unique expression of modernism such as this case of an old train station converted into a private home in Santpoort. The home owners wanted to preserve the spirit of the rail station so a modern extension with a rust and glass facade was added with the intent to compliment rather than detract from original structure which provides all the modern amenities inside to go with all that history outside.

Images courtesy Zecc Architects

Church living

With church membership tumbling in the developed world, this equates a rising number of empty church buildings entering the real estate market. While some are taken over by other congregations, many are torn down due to the lack of alternative uses for such buildings. However, there are a few enterprising individuals opting to turn them into homes.

This 1877 stone church in Adelaide, Australia has been completely transformed into a fully functional home with all the modern comforts:

The minimalist home below was originally a 1870 Gothic church in Utrecht, Netherlands:

Converted Church in Northumberland, England:

It is good to see quality architecture such as these examples given a new lease on life rather than torn down in the name of progress and replaced by an IKEA.

(Images via their respective owners)

Via Apartment Therapy