Brückner & Brückner Architekten: Into the Light · A new life for the Christuskirche Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz - best architects 25

Brückner & Brückner Architekten

Into the Light · A new life for the Christuskirche Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz

best architects 25

renovation and addition

Place

Tirschenreuth | Würzburg Germany

Photos

Constantin Meyer

Description

Over the last five centuries, the Christuskirche has been a Catholic monastery church and a Lutheran church but also a granary, military hospital, bakery and apartment; it was hence repeatedly subjected to destruction and reconstruction. The Christuskirche grew rather than developed in the second half of the 20th century, without a coherent overall concept. The church had structural, fire-protection-related, functional, liturgical and design deficits. The closure, downsizing and conversion of churches is a major issue of our times and a topic that we have often had the privilege of dealing with. In these times we feel a strong longing for spaces with a special atmosphere. We therefore wanted to reveal the character of the Christuskirche and at the same time prepare it for the future. Our most fervent image for the interior of the church is a bright, luminous vessel for faith. We open up the choir and break up all spatial edges. The space is built of light. The view goes into infinity –with the light at the end of the nave as a symbol of resurrection, just like the walk-in altarpiece at eye level with the congregation. The room can be used separately from the nave, for example for concerts, baptisms or services for the smallest of children. The entire church interior is reduced, warm and bright, with the floor, furniture and principals all of a piece.