bayer | uhrig
Columbarium in St. Mary’s Church, Kaiserslautern
best architects 23
interior work
Place
Kaiserslautern, Germany
Studio
Photos
Michael Heinrich
Description
Churches are special places where we can come to rest
and renew our strength; they are identity-forming and have a social
significance beyond their actual sacred function. The idea was to integrate a
columbarium into the church and adapt the premises to this expanded use in the
course of a renovation. Contrary to current trends, the church will not become
a burial church but will continue to be used as a pastoral church. This
extension of use succeeds in giving the rooms a new overall quality. The urn
walls are arranged in the side aisles orthogonally to the outer walls. Ten
small chapels have been created as a new structure that is respectfully
integrated into the rhythm of the sacred setting. This results in intimate
places that nevertheless relate to the larger space. In the course of the
rededication of the corner chapels, the baptismal font as the entrance to the
Christian community was relocated to the entry area. Where parish life and
community celebrations take place, the pastoral church also welcomes the
deceased into its midst. The pastoral and spatial concept reflects the fact
that life and death are inextricably linked. The overarching theme for the urn
walls is an abstract rosette. Colours are used with extreme restraint and are
reserved for the historical elements. The result is a space of great clarity,
peace, strength and warmth that carries us into the future.