Ecumenical Church in Freiburg

Scarcely recognizable as an ecclesiastical building from the outside, this 15-metre-high monolithic concrete structure houses a Catholic and Protestant church and a community centre. Eight-metre-high sliding concrete walls allow the three parts of the complex – with a central common foyer and baptismal font – to be joined together for ecumenical services. The mood in the Catholic church on the western side is contemplative, with daylight entering via only a few openings. The seating is drawn round the altar. In contrast, a large opening in the east face lends the Protestant church a bright, lively atmosphere. The folded outer walls – up to 2 m thick on the west face – give the volume a strong sense of rhythm.