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Article from issue 9/2004 »Konzept Ecclesiastical Buildings«

Parish Centre in Regensburg

In view of the greatly increased population in Burgweinting, a suburb of Regensburg, the old village church of St Francis was no longer large enough for the community. In 1997, an architectural competition was held for a new parish centre. It was won by the Königs office with a design that revealed an unusual approach and that provided the innovative qualities required in the brief. The interpretation is remarkable for an ecclesiastical building. It adopts elements of traditional church construction and translates them into a modern architectural language. Externally, the new church has the appearance of a modest, monolithic block, about which the other parish buildings are grouped as a series of smaller cubes. The only tokens of an ecclesiastical function are the free-standing belfry and the old church with its onion-domed tower. The dynamic, elliptical internal space with sloping walls has nothing in common with the simple exterior. Covered by a translucent membrane roof, the space is bathed in a mild, indirect light that varies according to weather conditions and the inclination of the sun, creating an atmosphere of mystery and meditation.

Topics: "A Church That Opens Itself to Heaven ..."; Wall Construction; Translucent and Light - the Membrane

Details
1:20 Section through facade
1:20 Section through roof
1:500 Floor plans/Sections