Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Tuesday, Aug 26, 2025

A Heavenly Home in a 16th-Century Church Seeks in Northern Spain

A Heavenly Home in a 16th-Century Church Seeks in Northern Spain

A formerly abandoned chapel in Basque country has been brilliantly transformed by Garmendia Cordero Arquitectos.

On the edge of a green ravine in Spain’s northern Basque country, the Chapel House was a crumbling, 16th-century church when the current owner, Tas Careaga, bought it and enlisted his friend, architect Carlos Garmendia, to turn it into a contemporary home. The structure had been abandoned since the late 1970s, and the renovation would take three years, ultimately landing in the pages of Dwell.



The 16th-century Basque church that Tas Careaga and architect Carlos Garmendia converted sits in the small town of Sopuerta, Spain, about a half hour west of Bilbao. The lush lot is flanked by a wooded hillside.



Inside, polished cement floors cover the ground level, contrasting with the structure’s centuries-old stone and plaster. An open-tread staircase leads to the two-story loft.

"[Tas] has done a breathtaking job of blending Renaissance and modern aesthetics, creating a thoroughly contemporary living space with an exalted and meditative atmosphere," says listing agent Ana Vela. "This is a truly unique home that will captivate artists and art-lovers alike."



The kitchen, which boasts custom cabinetry, occupies the apse.

For Garmendia, the project was not just a restoration, but also an opportunity to "show that ruins can have value." His strategic design accommodates a modern lifestyle while preserving the old building and showcasing the effects of time. Measuring 2,150 square feet, the home features spacious living areas underneath the original, 40-foot ceiling vault.



A high shelf displays art in the lofty kitchen.



"The ingenious design [of the loft towers], enshrined in an elegant wooden ceiling reminiscent of a cathedral, makes the most of the building's height," says listing agent Ana Vela.

The more private areas of the home-including the bedroom, office, and two full bathrooms-are integrated into the two-story loft, which Garmendia describes as "new architecture implanted into old." Outside, a thriving garden awaits, as well as several designated spaces to gather and enjoy the natural surroundings.



Large glass doors help illuminate the space and its textured walls.



The cozy, lofted bedroom overlooks the main living areas on the ground level.

With another creative project now in the works, the current owner is seeking to hand over the keys to Chapel House. The sale price also includes a small collection of art and furniture amassed throughout the last 10 years.



Illuminated by a wide skylight, the second level of the lofted space is currently used as an office.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Iran Faces Escalating Water Crisis as Protests Spread
More Than Half a Million Evacuated as Typhoon Kajiki Heads for Vietnam
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Dogfights in the Skies: Airbus on Track to Overtake Boeing and Claim Aviation Supremacy
Tim Cook Promises an AI Revolution at Apple: "One of the Most Significant Technologies of Our Generation"
Are AI Data Centres the Infrastructure of the Future or the Next Crisis?
Miles Worth Billions: How Airlines Generate Huge Profits
Zelenskyy Returns to White House Flanked by European Allies as Trump Pressures Land-Swap Deal with Putin
Beijing is moving into gold and other assets, diversifying away from the dollar
Trump Backs Putin’s Land-for-Peace Proposal Amid Kyiv’s Rejection
Zelenskyy to Visit Washington after Trump–Putin Summit Yields No Agreement
Iranian Protection Offers Chinese Vehicle Shipments a Cost Advantage over Japanese and Korean Makers
United States Sells Luxury Yacht Amadea, Valued at Approximately $325 Million, in First Sale of a Seized Russian Yacht Since the Invasion of Ukraine
Saudi Arabia accelerates renewables to curb domestic oil use
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez announce engagement
Asia-Pacific dominates world’s busiest flight routes, with South Korea’s Jeju–Seoul corridor leading global rankings
Private Welsh island with 19th-century fort listed for sale at over £3 million
Sam Altman challenges Elon Musk with plans for Neuralink rival
Australia to Recognize the State of Palestine at UN Assembly
The Collapse of the Programmer Dream: AI Experts Now the Real High-Earners
Armenia and Azerbaijan to Sign US-Brokered Framework Agreement for Nakhchivan Corridor
British Labour Government Utilizes Counter-Terrorism Tools for Social Media Monitoring Against Legitimate Critics
WhatsApp Deletes 6.8 Million Scam Accounts Amid Rising Global Fraud
Texas Residents Face Water Restrictions While AI Data Centers Consume Millions of Gallons
India Rejects U.S. Tariff Threat, Defends Russian Oil Purchases
United States Establishes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile
Thousands of Private ChatGPT Conversations Accidentally Indexed by Google
China Tightens Mineral Controls, Curtailing Critical Inputs for Western Defence Contractors
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Germany’s Economic Breakdown and the Return of Militarization: From Industrial Collapse to a New Offensive Strategy
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
×