Architecture / Urban planning
Vécsey*Schmidt Architects, CH-Basel
Client
Property and Construction Baden-Württemberg, Freiburg
Completion date
2018
Awards:
Bauwerk Schwarzwald e.V. Architecture Route 2022
Description
The interior of the existing church had been gutted in the 1970s and stood as an unatmospheric space in a thoroughly impressive landscape in the southern Black Forest. The church was to become a special place again, a designed space that would allow both natural and cultural spaces to be experienced more strongly as a counterpoint.
Design and realisation
The declared aim was to create a place where people would enjoy celebrating church services.
The outward appearance of the hall church, which is frequently used for village churches in the Markgräflerland region, remains untouched. The wooden fixtures in the interior are detached from the existing wall and expose the windows at the rear.
The proportions of the original room shell, which surrounds the hall on all sides, remain clearly recognisable. The gallery creates a connection with the existing building, so that the fixtures do not appear additive despite the distance to the side.
The colour division between below and above serves to define the space. A dark, sheltering spatial shell is roofed over and elevated by a light-coloured, protective dome.
Conclusion:
Churches are among the most important architectural monuments in rural regions. St Michael's Church shows that the tradition of taking special care of the architectural heritage is still being upheld.
