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The AIA Interfaith Design (ID) Knowledge Community encourages and supports excellence in the design of worship spaces and their accoutrements. Interfaith Design is an association of professionals whose primary interest is religious facilities in a broad array of traditions. We value an interfaith forum for the exchange of ideas relating to religion, art, and architecture. Join us!

Older church buildings - other trends

  • 1.  Older church buildings - other trends

    Posted 05-19-2016 05:20 PM

    This might certainly become a growing trend, just as you see many old religious structures in Europe which have been adapted to other uses.  I’ve seen much more of this in areas of the Rust Belt, where communities are in decline in general.  I’ve seen a some beautiful old buildings converted into restaurants, night clubs and even a hotel. 

    As others mentioned, we’ve also seen a great number of adaptive reuse of other building types for churches over the past 10-15 years.  However, we see another trend starting to take off.

    We are seeing a strong attraction of younger churches (Millennials) to the special character (authenticity?) of these older sacred spaces.   Where possible these congregations are moving in and revitalizing the older buildings with newer church ideas.  Its also often an interest in the ancient/future nature of faith - and a desire to connect their identify to a something more timeless. 

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    [Tom] [Greenwood] [AIA]
    [Director of Faith-Based Design]
    [The Beck Group]
    [Dallas] [Texas]
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