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While my renovation means getting a new rug from Ikea, changing a lightbulb that’s been out of order for the past year (or five, if I’m being totally honest), and keeping my succulents alive, some people turn it into an art form.

Welcome to the inspiring collection of renovations that deserve their own place in history compiled by Bored Panda. From the abandoned church that’s been remade into a skater’s dream park to a defunct subway entrance that’s been cleverly turned into an actual entry to the Subway eatery, and it only gets better.

Scroll down, upvote your favorite remakes and repurposed buildings, and be sure to check out our previous posts with some more wonderful building conversions right here.

#1

Moved Here 4 Years Ago. Converted Victorian Church In England. Love This Room

Moved Here 4 Years Ago. Converted Victorian Church In England. Love This Room

misterzeee Report

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    #2

    Stone Observatory Tower Converted To A Home

    Stone Observatory Tower Converted To A Home

    reddit.com Report

    #3

    The Building Used For The Swimming Events At The 2008 Summer Olympics In Beijing Was Transformed Into This Dope-Looking Waterpark

    The Building Used For The Swimming Events At The 2008 Summer Olympics In Beijing Was Transformed Into This Dope-Looking Waterpark

    TheTwoSeventeen Report

    When we think of architecture, we start picturing an entire complex process that gets to make a building from zero. But very often, architects work with what they’re already given, whether it’s defunct objects or abandoned buildings, and they have to work their way around them to give these ghosts an entirely new meaning and purpose.

    Repurposed buildings also have power to revitalize communities. It often happens when industrial structures like old factories are remodeled into community centers—sites of leisure.

    #4

    In Germany There Is Waterpark Called Tropical Islands. It's A Literal Tropical Island Built Inside An Old Blimp Hangar

    In Germany There Is Waterpark Called Tropical Islands. It's A Literal Tropical Island Built Inside An Old Blimp Hangar

    reddit.com Report

    #5

    Gas Station Greenhouse

    Gas Station Greenhouse

    ansquaremet Report

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    #6

    My Gym Used To Be Part Of An Asylum Complex. The Pool Used To Be A Church And The Confession Booths Are Now A Sauna

    My Gym Used To Be Part Of An Asylum Complex. The Pool Used To Be A Church And The Confession Booths Are Now A Sauna

    loopy53 Report

    According to Kaelan Burkett, an author at Architizer, “repurposed buildings are not simply reincarnations of their former selves; an arts center does not have the same relationship to a community as a factory.”

    “But these projects do not act as replacements or departures from what preceded them, either. When architecture is successfully repurposed, it does not hide its history, but instead becomes a relic, projecting its identity into a new age, and embodying the contradictory qualities of tradition and innovation, of preservation and progress.”

    #7

    Vienna Gasometers: Gas Storage Tanks First Built In 1896 And Converted Into Mixed-Use Developments Between 1995 And 2001

    Vienna Gasometers: Gas Storage Tanks First Built In 1896 And Converted Into Mixed-Use Developments Between 1995 And 2001

    archineering Report

    #8

    Niccolò Paganini Auditorium, Parma, Italy, An Abandoned Sugar Factory Converted Into A Concert Hall By Renzo Piano In 1996

    Niccolò Paganini Auditorium, Parma, Italy, An Abandoned Sugar Factory Converted Into A Concert Hall By Renzo Piano In 1996

    archineering , teatroregioparma Report

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    #9

    This Abandoned Church Was Purchased By Skaters And Renovated Into A Dream Park

    This Abandoned Church Was Purchased By Skaters And Renovated Into A Dream Park

    BirchTainer Report

    Kaelan also claims that repurposing architecture is not a new concept. For example, “The Hagia Sophia has been rebuilt, redesigned and redecorated many times in its lives as a church, mosque and museum. Similarly, the Kremlin has housed many regimes since its 14th-century construction, and undergone a corresponding evolution of forms.” In such cases, the changing roles of architecture often reflect or enforce political ideologies and claims to power.

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    #10

    My New Apartment Still Has The Original Molding From When It Was A Hotel Ballroom In 1923

    My New Apartment Still Has The Original Molding From When It Was A Hotel Ballroom In 1923

    vlcnus Report

    #11

    Dublin: An 11th Century Viking Well And Stone Under A Local Shop

    Dublin: An 11th Century Viking Well And Stone Under A Local Shop

    Parisduonce Report

    #12

    Stamba Hotel, Tbilisi, Georgia, Designed In 2018 By Adjara Group And Located In An Old Printing House

    Stamba Hotel, Tbilisi, Georgia, Designed In 2018 By Adjara Group And Located In An Old Printing House

    archineering Report

    #13

    These Two UK Phone Booths Have Been Repurposed

    These Two UK Phone Booths Have Been Repurposed

    axnu Report

    #14

    The Hospital I Work For Was Originally Designed To Be A Hotel

    The Hospital I Work For Was Originally Designed To Be A Hotel

    reoltlaonc Report

    #15

    My House Turned 101 Today (Originally A 1920’s Corner Grocery)

    My House Turned 101 Today (Originally A 1920’s Corner Grocery)

    haganwalker Report

    #16

    My Town’s Library Is Under Construction, So They’re Using An Old Grocery Store As The Temporary Library

    My Town’s Library Is Under Construction, So They’re Using An Old Grocery Store As The Temporary Library

    pooshins Report

    #17

    This Defunct Subway Entrance Is A Working Subway Entrance

    This Defunct Subway Entrance Is A Working Subway Entrance

    handsgrubber Report

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    #18

    A Former Grain Silo In Oslo, Now Converted To Student Housing

    A Former Grain Silo In Oslo, Now Converted To Student Housing

    heythere011 Report

    #19

    The Grand Concourse Built In 1898. Once Train Station Is Now A Restaurant In Pittsburgh, PA

    The Grand Concourse Built In 1898. Once Train Station Is Now A Restaurant In Pittsburgh, PA

    Dry_Way4135 Report

    #20

    This McDonald's In New Zealand Has A Decommissioned Plane You Can Dine In

    This McDonald's In New Zealand Has A Decommissioned Plane You Can Dine In

    timfox1 Report

    #21

    A Ship's Bridge That Has Been Removed And Converted Into A House

    A Ship's Bridge That Has Been Removed And Converted Into A House

    Washpedantic Report

    #22

    Regional Coffee Chain Buys Gas Station, Uses Car Wash As Drive Through

    Regional Coffee Chain Buys Gas Station, Uses Car Wash As Drive Through

    dephanitly Report

    #23

    Old Church Turned Into A 24/7 Pancake Restaurant

    Old Church Turned Into A 24/7 Pancake Restaurant

    ThatOldGuyWhoDrinks Report

    #24

    Old Bank Was Transformed Into A Hotel, They Kept The Vault As A Meeting Room

    Old Bank Was Transformed Into A Hotel, They Kept The Vault As A Meeting Room

    WoollyMonster Report

    #25

    This Hotel Is An Old Prison

    This Hotel Is An Old Prison

    pistrel Report

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    #26

    In The UK, Redundant Telephone Boxes Are Being Repurposed As Public Defibrillators

    In The UK, Redundant Telephone Boxes Are Being Repurposed As Public Defibrillators

    skillian Report

    #27

    My Girlfriend’s Office Used To Be A Bowling Alley. The Original Lanes Are Still There

    My Girlfriend’s Office Used To Be A Bowling Alley. The Original Lanes Are Still There

    joestn Report

    #28

    This Hotel Is Built Out Of Train Cars

    This Hotel Is Built Out Of Train Cars

    Cessnateur Report

    #29

    The Old Don Jail (1864) In Toronto Converted Into Offices For The Newly Built Hospital Beside It In 2013

    The Old Don Jail (1864) In Toronto Converted Into Offices For The Newly Built Hospital Beside It In 2013

    sledgehammer_77 Report

    #30

    Old Silo In Söderköping, Sweden, Repurposed As Housing

    Old Silo In Söderköping, Sweden, Repurposed As Housing

    paulplutt Report

    #31

    McDonald's In The Art Deco Former "United Kingdom Hotel", Clifton Hill, Melbourne, Australia

    McDonald's In The Art Deco Former "United Kingdom Hotel", Clifton Hill, Melbourne, Australia

    IceColdFrozenDrip Report

    #32

    These Apartments Used To Be A YMCA

    These Apartments Used To Be A YMCA

    chumleesdog Report

    #33

    Old Church Converted Into A Gym

    Old Church Converted Into A Gym

    Runikal Report

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    #34

    A Smartphone Repair Office Inside A Telephone Box North Of Holborn Station

    A Smartphone Repair Office Inside A Telephone Box North Of Holborn Station

    Kuzu9 Report

    #35

    Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre: A Former Commodities Exchange With A 750-Seat Theatre 'Pod' Tucked Inside. The Theatre Opened In 1976

    Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre: A Former Commodities Exchange With A 750-Seat Theatre 'Pod' Tucked Inside. The Theatre Opened In 1976

    SirJohnUmfrevile Report

    Note: this post originally had 80 images. It’s been shortened to the top 35 images based on user votes.