trends chapel redos Photos by ED REEVE perspectives 2 3 announced its move to a historic church on Central Park West. Originally designed by Carrère & Hastings and completed in 1903, local firm FXCollaborative will take on the rehabilitation project with an anticipated completion of 2021. And that's just the beginning. Keeping preservation top of mind, a few more former chapels have been reincarnated into vibrant, social spaces that maintain the building's heritage while ushering them into the future. Duddell's London Surrounded by massive modern buildings in the heart of the London Bridge area stands St. Thomas Church. London-based Michaelis Boyd recently transformed the beautiful Queen Anne-style building into Duddell's, the second location for the Hong Kong teahouse-meetsart gallery. "We started off with a great space," says Michaelis Boyd cofounder Alex Michaelis. 2. Retro details in Duddell's London, including a saturated green-tiled bar with a pink terrazzo countertop and geometric flooring, pop against the original wooden altar. 3. The brick façade of the former St. Thomas Church keeps the identity of Duddell's London hidden within. Massive windows and the original dark wooden altar and pews set the perfect contrast for the studio's retro-inspired design. Michaelis played with the joy of discovery, imagining guests wandering into this little church off a gray London street. Says Michaelis: "You don't really know what it is until you've walked in. The surprise is part of the joy. You go through a little door wondering what's going to happen." Saturated green volcanic tiles and brass shelving define the central bar, while oversized dramatic chandeliers contrast the pink and white terrazzo-clad worktop of the island.