Skip to main content

This Minimalist Office Space was Built in a Renovated Church

When Belgium architectural firm Klaarchitectuur was in need of an office space, they turned to the past for their thoroughly modern concept. Known for their ultra-minimalist designs, Klaarchitectuur managed to stay true to their roots while embracing the wonderful history of the city of Sint-Truiden. The result is Kapel, a sleek lined minimalist office built inside of a historic Belgium chapel.

Recommended Videos

It may seem strange that an architectural firm which specializes in contemporary designs would seek out a crumbling chapel as their headquarters, but for head architect Gregory Nijs, preserving the building and reopening it to the public was a top priority. By situating the office at the back of the chapel, they were able to protect the majority of the space, allowing it to be used for special events.

The chapel was on the register of historic places and, in order to maintain this status, the shell of the building was left in tact. Bricks are exposed, plaster is cracked, and old support beams were unfinished. From the exterior, there is no indication this structure is used for anything other than as a place of worship. Except, of course, for that one little corner in the back where a white cube conspicuously juts out from the second floor.

In order to achieve the sleek modern office space they desired, Klaarchitectuur created a building within the building. Three stacked cube forms at the back of the chapel block out the workspace for the group. There is no attempt to delicately blend old and new — these forms stand out in stark contrast to the historic brick walls of the chapel, and that’s just the way Nijs wanted it. Bright white walls, a black staircase, and glass railings all combine to create visual tension with the old materials of the original structure.

Inside the cubes, the spaces are finished with light wood flooring, mid-century modern furnishings, and high-end minimalist lighting from Flos. Work areas are bright white, creating a clean palette that allows creativity to flow. Here and there the original wooden support beams cut through the walls, adding a bit of warmth to the rooms. Workspaces and lounge areas feature glass walls that let the group look out to the open event space which was left untouched save for the addition of a golden kitchen island and wooden picnic table. Overall, Klaarchitectuur  took an innovative approach to creating a modern office inside of a piece of history.

Kelsey Machado
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kelsey is a professional interior designer with over a decade of experience in the design field. With a passion for…
Netflix’s new documentary series now has a 100% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes
The miniseries is just three hours long.
Osama bin Ladin in American Manhunt

Netflix puts out tons of new content every week, and while some of it is critically beloved, other things get panned or don't get much critical attention at all. One of the streamer's new shows this May, though, has debuted with a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes.

American Manhunt: Osama bin Ladin is a documentary series that tells the story of the hunt for Osama bin Ladin the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attack. Although he was known in the years before 9/11, bin Ladin became U.S. intelligence's top target in the aftermath of the attacks, and it took nearly 10 years to track him down.

Read more
Austin Butler and Jeremy Allen White are set to face off in A24’s Enemies
The movie follows a detective and contract killer who play a game of cat and mouse.
Austin Butler in Masters of the Air.

A24 definitely knows how that one surefire way to drum up interest in its movies is to cast actors who are red hot in the industry. Now, reports suggests that the studio has done just that with Enemies, which will star Jeremy Allen White and Austin Butler as, you guessed it, enemies.

The film is described as a crime saga and comes from director Henry Dunham. The film's official synopsis says that it follows “a relentless detective and an infamous contract killer" who "collide in a deadly game of cat and mouse.” Production on the project is slated to begin this summer in Chicago.

Read more
Nobody 2: Everything we know so far
Bob Odenkirk is back for another action adventure
Bob Odenkirk in Nobody 2

Before Bob Odenkirk turned in a seminal performance of TV's prestige era playing Jimmy McGill and Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, he was most known for his comedy chops. People were surprised to see him step out of his comfort zone in the world of drama television, but it helped usher in a new reputation for the veteran, everyman star.

Odenkirk got to play an action hero in 2021's Nobody, and the sequel is finally on the way. Nobody 2 might just be one of the best movies of the summer. Here is everything we know about it so far, from the cast to the trailer and the release date.
Is there a trailer for Nobody 2?
Nobody 2 | Official Trailer

Read more