The British designer opened a small hotel in chapel building

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. A derelict chapel has opened its doors to guests after being completely transformed into a stunning holiday cottage.

Dubbed 'The Chapel on the Hill', the building is nearly unrecognisable from its former incarnation - a derelict shell which stood on a hillside in Forest-in-Teesdale in the North Pennines.

Design company director Stefan Camenzind stumbled across the chapel by chance while exploring the area, and decided to buy it on a whim. “Armenpress” reports about this, citing dailymail website.

Stefan, who is executive director at Evolution Design, said: 'My brother-in-law and I came across the chapel by chance while exploring Teesdale.

The cottage has a large kitchen, living room, four bedrooms, two en-suites and a family bathroom. Architects from award-winning Swiss firm Evolution Design reopened the historic nineteenth century building's original gothic-style arched windows and added a mezzanine floor to create a spacious self-catering space which sleeps seven guests.

The chapel, which had been vacant for many years and was badly damaged by strong winds and driving rain, needed considerable work to its roof and wood structure. Because it is in such a remote location installing utility services and sewage treatment was one of the first tasks.

Stefan said he wanted the chapel's interior to be modern and comfortable, but chose materials and finishes based on the existing building and its history and landscape.

'The reaction has been fantastic,' he said. 'As the chapel is located in a very rural countryside, at first we were a little bit unsure if people would want to stay so far away from it all. 'But in fact, our guests do love being so close to the nature, appreciating the comfort and amenities of this historic yet very modern holiday home.'