(RNS) — For religious architecture this year, some of the most creative designs took the old and made it new — and sacred.
Sponsored by the journal Faith and Form, the annual International Awards Program for Religious Art & Architecture this year highlighted the growing trend in sacred architecture to adapt existing facilities, or to transform secular buildings into religious ones.
Several of the 27 winning entries in 2017 fell into the “Adaptive Re-Use/Re-Purpose” category.
With the continuing shrinkage of mainline Protestant congregations, churches are more focused on getting the most out of their existing spaces, in some cases adapting them so they can be used for both spiritual and secular uses, according the the contest sponsors.
The awards also reflect simplicity in design, a part of a growing social value of voluntary simplicity in lifestyle — decluttering consumer-oriented lives.
See the winners in the gallery below.
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- Calcagnini Contemplative Center, Dynerman Architects. Photo by Alan Karchmer Photography
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- RLJ Chapel, Ricardo Yslas Gamez Arquitectos. Photo by Jaime Navarro
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- Vajrasana Buddhist Retreat Centre, Walters & Cohen Architects. Photo by Jim Stephenson
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- Stella Maris Chapel, Alejandro Beautell, Arquitecto. Photo by Efrain Pintos
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- Garden Chapel Pavilion, archimania. Photo courtesy of archimania
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- Liberty United Methodist Church, Dake Wells Architecture. Photo by Architectural Imageworks LLC
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- New Faith Baptist Church Worship Center, Harding Partners. Photo by Christopher Barrett Photography
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- Park Plaza Synagogue, Epstein—Principal Designer Andrew Metter. Photo by Ballogg Photography
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- Tegami-Dokoro, Shoji Oshio + UA architects. Photo by Ken’ichi Suzuki
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- Amir Shakib Arslan Mosque, L.E.FT Architects. Photo by Ieva Saudargaite
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- Bellevue First Congregational Church, atelierjones llc. Photo by Lara Swimmer Photography
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- Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun Synagogue Chapel, FXFOWLE. Photo by Chris Cooper
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- Reeder Presbyterian, archimania. Photo by Hank Mardukas Photography
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- SGI New England Buddhist Center, Touloukian Touloukian Inc. Photo by Anton Grassl Photography
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- Redemption Arcadia, DeBartolo Architects. Photo by Bill Timmerman
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- Westport Presbyterian Church, BNIM. Photo by Michael Robinson
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- Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, Architecture Research Office. Photo by Elizabeth Felicella/Esto
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- The Sheridan Center Chapel, Jackson and Ryan Architects. Photo by Mark Scheyer
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- Chai Spice Box, Ellen Hunt. Photo by Ellen Hunt
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- Duke University Chapel Woodwork Restoration, Century Guild. Photo by KC Ramsay
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- ‘Pieta’, Salvatore LaRosa. Photo by David Mitchell
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- Eid Prayer Ground, Allies and Morrison. Photo by Gerry O’Leary
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- Cathedral Campus, Strada Architecture LLC. Photo by Dennis Marsico
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- Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, Moto Designshop. Rendering by Moto Designshop
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- Funeral Home, Edyta Paula Konstantynowicz. Rendering by Edyta Paula Konstantynowicz
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- Sacred Space of a Modern Man, Joanna Wierzbicka. Rendering by Joanna Wierzbicka
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- The Mhuysqa Offering, Travis Price Architects with The Catholic University of America. Photo by Travis Price