Balbek Bureau wins global fame for offbeat design

A 19th century church in San Francisco had stood semi-abandoned for nearly 30 years before it recently reopened as an event hall. It was neglected and now it stuns with its beauty: a pipe organ under a high ceiling, massive arches and sofas in the aisles.
Such a transformation wouldn’t be possible without Ukrainian architecture and interior design studio Balbek Bureau, which redesigned the Our Lady of Guadalupe Church into a modern venue.

The church had been a place of worship since 1880, but the number of attendants was decreasing year after year and the church eventually closed in 1990. For the last 20 years, its semi-basement was used as school premises.