New religion

Dutch design studio Piet Boon has recently completed the transformation of the church of a former military hospital in Antwerp into The Jane, a gourmet destination that combines fine dining with a chic rock ‘n roll aesthetic.
The Jane opened in March 2014, and consists of a main dining area which occupies the church’s main hall and a bar on the upper floor simply called The Upper Room Bar – which also serves light snacks prepared behind the bar. The kitchen has been placed under the magnificent apse, where the altar used to be and is encased within glass walls making the entire cooking process visible to patrons. Tattoo-inspired engravings decorate the stainless steel surfaces of the kitchen, while a light installation in the shape of a skull overlooks the restaurant’s patrons from high above. The designers chose to preserve much of the church’s original materials and features, such as the intricate mosaics on the floor and the arched ceiling – with the latter’s beautifully aged colours contrasted against the pristine furniture and spotless walls below. I’m not much of a church goer but I think this could change my mind #newreligion !

© Richard Powers. images – 1,2,3,7,8,9,10,11,12 – image 4 Rohi Rezvani – image 5 Piet Boon