Building on the Church - Cultural House Ruhr: Future in Sacred Spaces
Date and Time
Location
Price
About this Event
Mood
Venue Type
Building on the Church - Cultural House Ruhr: Rediscovering Sacred Spaces
Churches tell stories of faith, community, and lived history. The exhibition Building on the Church - Cultural House Ruhr invites you to view the future of church spaces with new eyes. In the Christ the King Church Bochum, architectural visions, spiritual atmosphere, and societal questions come together.
30 Master Theses on the Future of Churches
30 architecture graduates from TU Dortmund present plans, models, and visualizations for the repurposing of five churches in Essen, Bochum, and Wattenscheid. The focus is on how sacred buildings can become new places for art, movement, education, encounter, and culture after their liturgical use has ended.
Building on Instead of Forgetting
The designs are oriented towards the existing spatial proportions, light incidence, materials, and the history of the churches. Among other proposals are studios under vaults, movement spaces in the nave, public baths, theater stages, libraries, and walkable data centers. Throughout, the unique identity of the church spaces remains a central reference point.
Christ the King Church as a Place of Change
The Christ the King Church has not been used for services since 1998. It has already been a venue for exhibitions, a site of Manifesta, and a place for cultural encounters. The exhibition makes this transformation visible and connects architectural expertise with a religious and societal discourse on memory, change, and new forms of community.
An Experience of Faith Between History and Future
Between church walls, light, and models, a special atmosphere of calm and contemplation emerges. Even without a traditional service, the exhibition offers a religious experience: visitors confront the question of how familiar places can preserve their significance while also taking on new roles for society.
Opening Hours and Admission
The exhibition is open on Sunday, December 13, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Admission is free. The final projects of TU Dortmund will be showcased as part of a cooperative project by Building Culture North Rhine-Westphalia and the Chair of Massive Building Constructions at TU Dortmund.
Those interested in church architecture, renovation culture, spirituality, urban development, and new meeting places will experience an exhibition of high societal relevance in Bochum. Immerse yourself in the models, spaces, and visions of the future and experience live how new perspectives for community emerge from contemplation on churches.
