Building the Church: Future and Community in Bochum's Christ-King Church
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Building the Church: Future Ideas in Christ-King Church
Where once services were celebrated, a space opens up for new questions, visions, and community perspectives. The exhibition Building the Church – Culture House Ruhr invites you to experience the future of sacred architecture with all your senses and to reflect on the significance of churches as places of faith, encounter, and culture.
Architecture Meets Spirituality
In the special atmosphere of Christ-King Church, visitors encounter 30 master's theses from architecture graduates of TU Dortmund. The designs investigate how church spaces can be further developed after their liturgical use has ended. Spatial proportions, light incidence, materials, and the history of the buildings form the starting point for new concepts.
New Spaces for Art, Movement, and Encounter
Plans, models, and visualizations showcase possible future scenarios for five churches in Essen, Bochum, and Wattenscheid. Ideas range from studios under vaults and movement areas in the nave to libraries, stages, baths, and walk-in data centers. The unique identity of the church spaces remains at the forefront.
Reconstruction Culture in the Ruhr Area
The exhibition understands building on as active architectural transformation. Instead of demolition and new construction, gentle installations, sustainable usage concepts, and respectful handling of the existing structure take precedence. The Christ-King Church itself serves as an impressive experiential space: it has not been used for services since 1998 and has already been an exhibition location and the site of Manifesta 16 Ruhr.
Admission and Visit
The exhibition is open on Wednesday, November 25, 2026, from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Admission is free. Interested parties from Bochum and the Ruhr area gain an accessible insight into issues of church development, building culture, spirituality, and social responsibility.
Conclusion: Visitors can expect an inspiring experience of faith in an extended sense: a quiet, impressive church space, bold architectural models, and the invitation to think about the future of communal places. Experience building the church live at Christ-King Church and discover how new possibilities for society arise from familiar spaces.
