Resource, Research, Reset - Architectural transformation of sacred spaces

Throughout its history, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für christliche Kunst e. V. (DG) has repeatedly dealt with questions of church architecture and the design of ecclesiastical spaces. In 2018, on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of our association, we developed the travelling exhibition 'Zusammenspiel - Kunst im sakralen Raum' (Interplay - Art in Sacred Space) and in 2023 the travelling exhibition 'Kirche Raum Gegenwart' (Church Space Present), which encourages people to think about church spaces in a new way, as they create identity and often shape the image of a place.
Even in modern societies, churches are often places of social gathering. Many church congregations are socially involved, for example in helping the homeless or refugees. Church buildings are therefore also a symbol of social responsibility and a place for community involvement. At a time of falling membership numbers in parishes and the associated decline in the need for church premises, it is of central importance to develop new concepts for the preservation or transformation of these important buildings.
Resource, Research, Reset - Architectural Transformation of Sacred Spaces' focuses on the quality of church spaces and presents new, innovative uses in order to preserve them as spaces for society and its needs. The project is the result of a collaboration with Prof Uta Graff's Chair of Design at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). The Master's project of the same name started in the summer semester of 2024 with an initial assignment. The students looked at the architectural transformation of St John's Church in Ingolstadt, designed by architect Theo Steinhauser in 1964, with the aim of studying both the existing building and the urban context. The design should take into account new uses as well as architectural and structural changes and convey these in the form of models, interior photographs and drawings.
The students of the winter semester 2024/25 dealt with the architectural transformation and structural extension of the St. Mauritius church centre in Munich Moosach, designed by architect Herbert Groethuysen in 1967. The use of the building, which has been a listed building since August 2024, was predetermined this time: a residential use was to be developed. The aim was to consider both the existing building and the urban context, and to think about possible forms of living in a community and its spatial requirements.
The three terms 'resource', 'research' and 'reset' form the foundation of the project: 'Resource' is the architectural potential and cultural substance of the church spaces; 'Research' is the need to explore historical and structural aspects of the buildings and 'Reset' refers to the opportunity for a new beginning and a constructive view of these important spaces.
The results of the projects are presented in the DG Kunstraum and provide an insight into innovative proposals for a relevant and complex issue. The exhibition ties in with the Re* lecture series on sustainability in the construction sector and is supported by the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria.

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Last edited on 15.04.2025