From a house of God to a home of their own

An ordinary home? Hardly! Agatha Walczak-Typke and Rainer Typke live in a one-of-a-kind church. With incredible attention to detail, the couple have managed to retain the unique character of the building while transforming it into a home unlike any other. One of the main highlights is the bi-folding doors they use as windows for the house.

A former prison, an old industrial hall, a disused church – the couple took their time scoping out a number of unusual properties. Right from the start, one thing was certain: they wanted something that was special, one of a kind. “I’ve always dreamed of converting a special building myself and designing it to my own specifications. So that’s why we were specifically looking for somewhere unusual to live,” recalls Agatha Walczak-Typke. The couple didn’t mind where in Germany the property was located; they just wanted a building with a “wow” factor – and one that was close to an airport. He works in Luxemburg, she in Vienna, and they both spend a lot of time travelling the world. “Because of our lifestyle, we wanted our home to be somewhere we could relax – but also somewhere that would never stop fascinating us.”

A unique church in Hasbergen, just outside the north-west German city of Osnabrück, fulfilled all the couple’s criteria – and particularly their desire for an exclusive home. The pointed gable roof and long shape of the building are clear indicators of its original purpose. “Straight away, my wife and I saw the hidden potential in so many parts of this special building,” Rainer Typke recalls.

The couple planned out all the renovation work themselves. This included the striking lancet arches and their tall, bright, colourful windows, which proved difficult to implement in practice. It was important to the owners that the glass in these windows be the same as that used in churches – what is known as cathedral glass. Luckily, they found a local manufacturer who could supply the material. The next challenge was to fit it perfectly into the unusual, narrow shape of the arches – a task that wasn’t made easier by the fact that the H-shaped mullions of the small panes were made of lead rather than wood or aluminium, in keeping with the original style. And as if that wasn’t enough, they also wanted their home to have bi-folding doors. The bottom sections of the windows are made of three glass elements, each around 2.7 metres in height, which can be folded together to open up access to the patio.

Glass front specialist Solarlux of Melle, north-west Germany, expertly brought all the owners’ requirements together under one roof. What used to be the main nave of the church where the sermons were held has now been transformed into a living and dining area with a unique flair.

But while the bi-folding doors may be finished, that doesn’t mean the work on the house overall is complete. Then again, that’s exactly what the couple like about their special home. Rainer Typke assures us that they still have plenty more plans. “Whenever we can, we do a bit more planning and work on our church. It’s the perfect holiday for us – working on our dream life in a unique atmosphere.”