1.3 Founding Ideas
The church as the “house of God“ is culturally and historically viewed as both an ideal and
built focus of the christian community.
The church is, however, not just a place to congregate in order to celebrate religious services;
it is a place of peace, calm and self-reflection. In an age of constant change and
commercialisation, it is these qualities that entitle the church to a worthy position.
This also applies to the district of East Sontheim; the area does not have a history of natural
development, but was planned in a heterogeneous way. There is a tendency towards
anonymity.
A large proportion of the population in the area is a colourful mix of immigrants, and as such
has to learn to grow together as a community. The citizens from Eastern Europe want to be
able to settle here, to find a new home here. It is the task of the catholic community centre to
help them by offering them an appropriate basis for their beliefs.
The building has been developed in a similar layout to that of a cloister. Its character is, as
such introvert. There is a noticeable relationship between exterior and interior, as well as the
organization of the individual spaces around the courtyard. From the outside the structure is
defined and reserved, from the inside mixed-up and complex.
The choice of the cloister as basis was a conscious decision taken in order to be able to define
a new building with existing memories that everyone finds in themselves, no matter where
they come from.
Urban planning and spatial connections:
The fact that the site slopes from south to north enabled the building to be designed with an
upper and lower ground floor level. The lower ground floor provides space for the youth
group rooms and the student pastoral services.
The community centre and kindergarten are accessed through the opened-up northwest corner
of the complex. The external staircase and ramp for disabled visitors, pushchairs, etc. are
under a protective “baldachin” roof. In reference to the initial idea of the cloisters the ground
floor level has separate covered entrances to the church, the entrance hall and to the
kindergarten.
The raised cubic dome above the church’s interior space represents its urban importance as
well giving the space within a sacral impression.
The church and the courtyard can be joined by opening the folding, sliding door that separates
them. This creates the opportunity to hold services outside. The altar, in the east, is lit from
above.
The bell-wall has a spatial effect towards the courtyard and to the exterior it shows itself as a
finely crafted piece of urban design.
The kindergarten, although structurally integrated into the whole layout shows its
individuality in plan. The space of both the group rooms flows into the outdoor space of the
south-garden. The interior space of group one can be enlarged through opening a folding wall
to incorporate the main hall and offer space for larger functions. The gymnasium is on the
upper floor level and has access to the roof terrace.
Construction
Lower ground floor Reinforced concrete construction, columns and slab, in-situ concrete
Ground floor
Timber structure, round timber columns, roof as ripped slab of veneered
plywood
Exterior walls
Street side: cavity wall, external skin: face brick, internal skin: plaster,
mineral insulation, ventilated. All other external walling, including
caretakers apartment: timber framed post and beam construction,
mineral insulation, exterior skin: timber cladding, interior: plasterboard.
Church
Dome: timber framed post and beam construction.
Exterior skin and roofing material: copper plating
Bell-wall
Wooden framework, semi-transparent timber panelling with open
joints.
Flat roof
Bituminous water proofing, green roof: extensive and intensive
planting. Tiled roof terrace accessible from gymnasium.
Glasing
Low-E double glazing
Environment
All materials are ecologically proven and free from harmful substances.
Only non chemically treated native timber has been implemented.
Peter Cheret, Architect