There’s something almost whimsical about former sacred spaces being converted into residential homes.
Weaving together history, spirituality, and contemporary living, churches-turned-homes preserve the cultural heritage embedded within their walls but also redefine the concept of home in a deeply unique and symbolic way.
And that’s the case of a covered synagogue in the East Village, which is now one of the most unique and architecturally distinct homes in all of New York City. The historic East Village synagogue was converted into a sun-drenched townhouse nearly two decades ago — and it’s a sight to be seen.
The former synagogue was once known as the 8th Street Shul and served the Lower East Side’s Jewish community.
The building managed to survive two fires in the past century, but unresolved ownership issues left it unattended for years.
That was until 2005 when the building was sold to a real estate developer that revamped the property and turned it into an upscale private residence.
It’s now a breathtaking four-story home with impeccable interiors, dramatic 22′ ceilings, and walls of exposed brick and wood, specially designed for displaying artwork. And we’re here to take you on a quick tour.
With a dramatic living area — featuring 22′ cathedral ceilings, floor-to-ceiling walls of restored brick (east) and Wenge wood paneling (west), as well as a Cantilever balcony with a built-in projector for showcasing art — the former synagogue has been re-imagined as a space for art lovers, which only doubles down on the space being an art piece in itself.
The luxury home has 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and 3 wonderful outdoor terraces.
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Brought to the finest modern standards, the former synagogue features an expansive chef’s kitchen with Italian granite counters, a 20′ island, floor-to-ceiling custom-built Wenge cabinets, upscale appliances that cover every possible need, and some nice bonuses (like a built-in temperature/humidity-controlled wine cooler).
There’s also a separate elegant dining area with a restored 19th-century backlit Star of David.
On the 3rd level, the converted synagogue has a gorgeous library with custom-built floor-to-ceiling wood bookshelves, an Italian marble fireplace, and a wet sink/wet bar.
The 4th story has a fairly unique floor-to-ceiling glass hallway and secluded master bedroom, fitted with a custom-built working fireplace, huge walk-in closet, and opulent master bath packed with everything from an oversized Jacuzzi tub to walk-in shower with steam unit, rain shower, waterfall and separate hand-held shower.
To top that off, there’s also a hot tub that fits 8 people out on the master terrace.
Fun fact: The former synagogue even had a brief stint in a movie (though it’s worth noting that this was prior to its transformation), as the building was featured in Darren Aronofsky’s 1998 psychological thriller Pi.
Would you like to live in a converted church or synagogue?
*Editor’s note: This article has been updated for timeliness and accuracy. It was first published on June 25, 2020, as a news piece covering the property, which had just resurfaced on the market as a $30k rental.
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