Evangelische Martin Luther Kirche

The Protestant church consists of four main elements: the church hall, the parish hall, the sacristy and the sculptural bell tower. Coop Himmelb(l)au derived the shape of the building from a giant table, with the entire roof structure resting on four steel supports, the legs of the "table".

The roof with its striking three skylights is another key element.

The outer skin of the roof consists of 8 mm thick, three-dimensionally formed steel plates welded onto a frame construction. The roof elements were designed and manufactured using shipbuilding technology. An important architectural role model was Le Corbusier, because of his references to shipbuilding, but also because of his monastery in La Tourette. This also symbolizes the Trinity of God.

The free-form 20-metre-high bell tower on the forecourt is a vertical, self-supporting steel structure. It complements the ensemble of buildings as a landmark visible from afar.

The interplay of light and transparency is of key importance in this project. The light comes from above: three large, spiral-shaped openings in the roof direct the light inwards. The church interior itself is not only a mystical space and place of tranquillity, but also an open communal space.

The church hall leads into the daylight-flooded, glass-roofed children's area, where the baptismal font is also located. Behind this is the parish hall; the two main rooms can be separated or connected with the help of folding walls. On the other side, a folding glass façade opens onto the street.

An elongated bar on a smaller side street flanks the two main rooms and contains the sacristy, the pastor's office, a small kitchen and other ancillary rooms. A handicapped-accessible ramp leads between the three buildings to the higher parish garden.