Eight heavenly home interiors that embody monastic minimalism

Natural materials, vaulted ceilings and utilitarian furniture feature in this lookbook of monastic interiors, where every room is a sanctuary for minimalist devotees.

Typically located in a church compound, a Christian monastery is a building that houses monks or nuns, and their restrained interiors – designed for prayer and contemplation – have become a source of inspiration outside of the religion.

Much like monasteries, the interiors below achieve a sense of serenity with neutral tones, wood and stone surfaces, and furniture that prioritises function over decoration.

Although they have a pared-back appearance, visual interest is created by celebrating the rooms' architecture with dramatic archways, exposed ceiling structures and symmetrical layouts.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen's archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring restaurant interiors in Mexico City, stylish wine bars and interiors where shoji screens filter light in.

Casolare Scarani, Italy, by Studio Andrew Trotter

Architecture practice Studio Andrew Trotter converted a 19th-century school in Puglia into a serene home with earthy finishes and furnishings, including stone floors and wooden furniture.

Aiming to retain the original character of the building, which was abandoned in the 1960s, its vaulted ceilings were kept intact and covered with a lime plaster.

Find out more about Casolare Scarani ›

Mourning Dovecote, USA, by Neal Schwartz

Neal Schwartz, founder of California-based studio Schwartz and Architecture, wanted to create a "chapel-like" space when designing a studio extension for his home in Sonoma.

A swooping roof rises at the end of the symmetrical extension and lets light in through a skylight, while a low window at floor level was designed for bird watching.

Find out more about Mourning Dovecote ›

Vaulting Loft, UK, by Mata Architects

Vaulting Loft is a house in London with soaring wooden ceilings, designed by local studio Mata Architects as a "white, cathedral-like space".

Intending for the home's architecture to be the main focus, Mata Architects paired white walls and ceilings with Douglas fir floorboards, an oak-clad volume containing the bathroom, and Taj Mahal Quartzite stone in the kitchen.

Find out more about Vaulting Loft ›

Chapel Residence, Hong Kong, by NC Design & Architecture

Designed for a devout Christian couple and their children, local studio NC Design & Architecture drew upon religious imagery for the transformation of this family home in Hong Kong.

The studio aimed to foster reflection and connection in the six-storey residence, which features rows of arches, marble accents and a lofty white living room.

Find out more about Chapel Residence ›

Rome apartment, Italy, by Serena Mignatti

Architect Serena Mignatti was informed by the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi for this apartment in Rome, but its lime-based painted walls and exposed wooden ceiling beams also give it a monastic quality.

Located in a 19th-century building, Mignatti renovated the penthouse for musician Thom Yorke and actress Dajana Roncione, overhauling the interiors with warm, neutral hues.

Find out more about the Rome apartment ›

Círculo Mexicano, Mexico, by Ambrosi Etchegaray

Architecture studio Ambrosi Etchegaray referenced the pared-back design ethos of the Shakers, a Christian sect founded in 1747, when transforming a 19th-century building in Mexico City into a hotel.

Minimalist bedrooms were designed to be devoid of ornamentation, with blocky plinths forming side tables, beige linens covering the beds, and Shaker-style peg rails used to hang mirrors and trinket boxes.

Find out more about Círculo Mexicano ›

House for Two Musicians, Portugal, by Atelier Matteo Arnone

Completely symmetrical in plan, this house in Portugal features two semicircular recording studios that project out over the double-height living space and bedroom below.

Designed by Italian practice Atelier Matteo Arnone, the home's neutral interiors feature plaster-coated walls, wood furniture and grey upholstery.

Find out more about House for Two Musicians ›

Gate Lodge, Ireland, by A2 Architects

A circular void looms over the dining area at the centre of Gate Lodge in Navan, revealing the home's pyramidal roof and skylight above.

Designed by Irish studio A2 Architects, the home has a cruciform plan with four arms containing a kitchen, three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a lounge area.

Find out more about Gate Lodge ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen's archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring restaurant interiors in Mexico City, stylish wine bars and interiors where shoji screens filter light in.

The post Eight heavenly home interiors that embody monastic minimalism appeared first on Dezeen.