When does the exhibition take place in Bochum?

The exhibition is open on Sunday, November 15, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Where does Building Church – Cultural House Ruhr take place?

The venue is the Christ King Church at Steinring 34 in 44789 Bochum.

What does the exhibition show?

Plans, models, and visualizations from 30 architecture graduates of TU Dortmund regarding the future use of five churches in the Ruhr area will be displayed.

Is the admission free?

Yes, admission to the exhibition is free.

What themes are in focus?

The focus is on the further development of church spaces, reconstruction culture, new uses for sacred buildings as well as places for art, movement, knowledge, and encounters.

Is the event a church service?

No, it is an architecture and building culture exhibition in a former church, not a church service.

Building Church: Discover Bochum's New Visions for Sacred Spaces

Name: Building Church – Cultural House Ruhr
Start: 2026-11-15T11:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-11-15T17:00:00+01:00
Location: Christ-König-Kirche

Building Church: Future Ideas for Sacred Spaces in Bochum

Where once worship services were celebrated, a space opens up for new questions, perspectives and communal visions of the future. The exhibition Building Church – Cultural House Ruhr invites you to experience the Christ King Church in Bochum with new eyes and to reflect on the societal significance of church buildings.

Architecture between Memory and Renewal

In focus are the master's theses of 30 architecture graduates from TU Dortmund. Their designs address five churches in Essen, Bochum, and Wattenscheid that are no longer used for worship services or are facing new developments. Plans, models, and visualizations show how familiar sacred spaces can become new places for art, movement, knowledge, and encounters.

When Churches Take on New Roles

The exhibition highlights the unique atmosphere of church spaces: the proportions of the space, light, materials, and the history of a place. The concepts range from studios under vaults and movement spaces in the nave to libraries, stages, baths, and walk-in data centers. Throughout, the question remains present as to how the identity of a church space can be preserved, transformed, and made newly experienced for society.

The Christ King Church as an Exhibition Venue

The Christ King Church itself is exemplary of the transformation of church architecture. Since 1998 it has not been used for worship services. In the meantime, it served as an art venue and as a site for Manifesta. Now it becomes the stage for an exhibition that connects reconstruction culture, spirituality, architecture, and the common good.

An Invitation to Reflect and Discover

The visit appeals to believers, architecture enthusiasts, cultural creators, and all people interested in the future of communal spaces. In the calm atmosphere of the former church space, a special faith experience beyond classical liturgy emerges: a religious experience that brings together memory, responsibility, and social shaping in conversation.

The exhibition is a cooperative project of Building Culture North Rhine-Westphalia and the Chair of Massive Construction at TU Dortmund. It connects to the impulses of Manifesta 16 Ruhr and the architectural cultural discourse on the future of churches.

Conclusion

Visitors can expect a free exhibition with impressive models, precise plans, and bold ideas for the further development of church spaces. Those who wish to experience how new community places emerge from history should visit Building Church – Cultural House Ruhr live at the Christ King Church.