Starting a new chapter

A s time moves on, across the centuries, so lifestyles change and needs evolve. It follows suit, then, that the purposes of buildings should also transform. Historic industrial, civic and cultural properties fall out of use for myriad reasons, but converting them into homes both celebrates architectural heritage and offers a sustainable way of satisfying demand for residences, while inviting creative spatial reimaginations. The results can be surprising and delightful: from a luxurious lounge in a historic chapel to a breakfast bar in a former brewery.

In Montreal, a church designed by architect Charles Bernier in 1910 is now home to truly unique apartments. Built as the Saint-Nicolas Syrian Greek Orthodox Church, the building became a cultural center for the city’s Belgian community after the church congregation moved away. At the start of the 21st century it was then artfully turned into condominiums. Contemporary insertions organize residential space around the historic architecture, while sensitively honoring the elegant heritage. Sleek living areas sit beneath soaring vaults and a tall dome painted with amazing frescos of angels.

Reimagining former churches as homes has become more common as congregations evolve or relocate to new buildings. The Saint Joseph Church, a monumental structure in the Dutch city of Alkmaar, was renovated in 2022 to provide nine apartments. Built in 1909, the church was designed by architect Albert Margry in a neo-Gothic style with graceful spires, pointed arches and intricate stone decoration. Over 100 years later, a team of local architects alongside the city’s public heritage body realized the building’s reinvention, carefully preserving the historic structure. Inside, stained-glass windows and original brick vaults and buttresses confer a sense of historic grandeur on the apartments, which have nonetheless been fitted out to a high-level contemporary standard.

Meanwhile in Tarpon Springs, a city on central Florida’s Gulf Coast, a Baptist church from 1926 now contains two luxurious homes. The building with its Mission-style architecture incorporates Spanish influences, complete with an elegant bell tower. It was abandoned in the 1990s following storm damage, before being transformed in 2022.

While a church may seem a curious place to call a home, there are perhaps stranger transformations. In Yeomanstown, a rural part of Ireland one hour outside of Dublin, a historically significant corn mill in an attractive 19th-century structure was restored and converted into an unusual yet enchanting residence. Although the brick building is late Georgian, dating to 1810, it is thought farmers had used the site for corn milling since the 14th century. Ceasing operations in the early 20th century, the mill was carefully turned into a home in the 1980s.

While the exterior is picturesque—set among three acres of riverside gardens, featuring a cut-stone aqueduct bridge and an original, working mill wheel—the interior blends industrial charm and contemporary living. Five bedrooms, multilevel living spaces, home offices and well-equipped kitchen and bathrooms are interspersed with original, well-preserved corn milling wheels, millstones and other traces of agricultural heritage. The home—characterized by timber ceilings, floors, beams and staircases—retains a rustic atmosphere while offering generous amounts of space.

In Sonoma, California, industrial architecture also blends with modern-day living in a structure with a diverse back story. Built in 1906, the property was once an ice storage facility, before becoming a cooperage (where barrels and casks are made), then brewery, artist studio, World War II armory and now a four-bedroom luxurious retreat. Meanwhile, in the Philadelphia Main Line region, on the historic Ardrossan estate, a century-old 40-horse barn is now a spacious, characterful six-bedroom property.

Owning a home with an entirely different former life—or multiple lives—brings an element of intrigue to the everyday, sparking the imagination while offering the benefits of unique architectural heritage. These buildings are ready for their next chapters.

Ideally located in Old Montreal, this historic turn-of-the-20th-century building previously used to lodge a church but was then converted into grandiose residences. The entire property was gut renovated to perfection with high-end finishes, extraordinary volumes, spectacular details and woodwork, domed ceilings, fireplaces, two parking spots and a large rooftop terrace with panoramic views. This fantastic, seven-bedroom property for daily, monthly, and yearly rentals is currently leased.

$7,037,037

Property ID: 6SZ4DV
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Sotheby’s International Realty Quebec
Andrew Hops +1 514 824 3236

This 17-acre property, just 30 minutes from Philadelphia, was once a prized piece of Ardrossan, the most extraordinary estate on Philadelphia’s esteemed Main Line. Now known as Albermarle, this collection of English-style stone buildings was masterfully restored to comprise a main residence (constructed in the 1920s to serve as a 40-horse barn), charming guest houses, entertainment barn, hi-tech business headquarters in a clock tower, alongside a pool and tennis court.

$13,450,000

Property ID: CJ8ZBJ
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Kurfiss Sotheby’s International Realty
Lisa Yakulis +1 610 517 8445

The Saint Joseph Church, built in 1909 on the edge of Alkmaar’s historic center, was extensively renovated into nine exclusive apartments in 2022. The goal was to create elegant new homes that fully meet current building standards, housed within a beautiful monumental structure steeped in history. This ground-floor apartment has a total living area of 233 square meters, with a private garden and two personal parking spaces.

$1,772,222

Property ID: JEZ3X9
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Netherlands Sotheby’s International Realty
+31 88 37 47 000

Located a block from Sonoma Plaza, this incredible four-bedroom property combines modern elegance with historical significance. Remodeled in 2023, it offers a mixed-use ground floor for commercial/residential with parking, a luxurious penthouse and an accessory dwelling unit featuring a wellness suite, outdoor pool and a spa. Formerly an ice storage facility, cooperage, brewery, artist studio and World War II armory, the property is a rare artifact of Sonoma Valley’s rich history.

$7,995,000

Property ID: 8Q6S8M
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Sotheby’s International Realty - St. Helena Brokerage
Ginger Martin +1 415 516 3939

The historic Yeomanstown corn mill has a rare magical quality and retains much of the original industrial mill equipment, making a truly unique and enchanting residence. The restoration and conversion of the building into a home marries the rare original industrial charm with contemporary living requirements. The property is situated within private grounds, which extend to the banks of the River Liffey and include the original cascading mill race canal.

$1,833,333

Property ID: VCLT67
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Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
David Ashmore +353 87 251 2909

This beautiful villa, in the district of Tarpon Springs, was originally built in 1926 as Tarpon’s First Baptist Church. It has been restored and transformed by the owner into a Mediterranean-style mansion, featuring two luxurious, fully furnished homes, with each key bedroom having its own balcony. The stunning property features air-conditioned, modernized living areas, a heated lap pool with spa, and a 12-vehicle garage.

$5,995,000

Property ID: 35Z5H7
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Premier Sotheby’s International Realty
Kelly Ackley +1 727 515 6504

This former church, located minutes away from San Francisco, was converted for modern living in 2013. The building retains its cathedral-like vaulted ceilings, striking church towers and majestic open floor plan, while benefiting from fully renovated bedrooms, kitchen and dining room—with a 450-bottle temperature-controlled wine wall. The offices, media room and gym are ideal for quieter days in, and the lower terrace with a firepit is perfect for intimate gatherings at sunset. This home is Bay Area living at its finest.

$11,995,000

Property ID: 2749X4
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Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty
Kara Warrin +1 415 407 7979