KRIBBE

The catholic community in The Netherlands is in an abrupt decline as an increasing amount of people abandon their faith. And, along with it, their churches. The increase of vacant churches creates a problem for municipalities what to do with all those empty churches? Given the exponential growth of the vacancy, addressing the issue calls for a comprehensive solution. However, every proposed solution is shunned by church owners. Why? Because they would rather see their church be demolished than it being repurposed into a non-religious structure. The result is longterm vacancy that ends in exactly that: the demolition of monumental churches.

The solution may seem elusive when it comes to repurposing, but we have the power to prevent demolition by bridging the gap between vacancy and the decision to repurpose or demolish. A temporary, nationwide initiative to utilise the vacant churches until a permanent solution emerges can make all the difference.

This is where the solution comes in: glamping in churches. A platform-based glamping experience that delivers a product that fits through the front door and comes out at the same end, leaving the church as it was. This gives Church owners around the Netherlands the opportunity to showcase their beautiful monumental churches to the public. The product the platform delivers consists out of independent two-person cabins with a front porch, sanitary cabins and acoustic elements. The amount of cabins depends on the size or request of the specific church in question.

To test the concept and also realise the first glamping experience the concept was executed in a real vacant church. With an approachable plan and a few friends the glamping was realised in a vacant church in Belgium. This gave insights in the succes of the products and decoration. More so, it provided the conclusion that spending 24 hours in a church fills you with appreciation and respect for the monumental buildings that are worth saving.