Little Tin Chapel, Chester

Like many corrugated steel churches of the British Empire, the Little Tin chapel in Chester, England, was built as a temporary place of worship in 1909, but survived two world wars during its more than 100 years. Made from the original flat-pack, the metal church – or “tin tabernacle” as they were known – cost £282, the equivalent of approximately £55,000 today. Although it was originally built for the men working on the Shropshire Union canal, the structure became part of the local community as a United Reformed chapel until 2011. The property was purchased for £75,000 by a family of novice property developers who planned to preserve the piece of local history by converting it into a unique holiday home. The developers insulated the structure, added a new corrugated steel shell, installed reclaimed pine flooring, a log burner and antique radiators, and created a 40 foot by 20 foot living space with a kitchen, as well as two bedrooms, a bathroom and a laundry room. The result is a building that offers open-plan contemporary living while maintaining the serene ambiance of the church.