Building the Church – Future and Community in Bochum's Christ the King Church
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Building the Church: New Spaces for Community and Future
Where once services were celebrated, a new space opens for encounters, reflection, and social responsibility. The exhibition Building the Church – Cultural House Ruhr invites you to experience the future of church buildings in the Ruhr area from architectural, cultural, and spiritual perspectives.
Architecture Between Memory and Renewal
In the Christ the King Church at Steinring, 30 architecture graduates from TU Dortmund present their master's theses. The focus is on five churches in Bochum, Wattenscheid, and Essen, whose spaces are to be repurposed. The designs preserve the special atmosphere of sacred architecture while connecting it with the current needs of society.
Plans, Models, and Visions in the Church Space
Visitors discover plans, models, and visualizations ranging from studios under arches to movement spaces and public baths, as well as stages, libraries, and walk-in data centers. Light, materiality, spatial proportions, and the history of the buildings form the starting point for each concept.
Continue Building Instead of Forgetting
The exhibition follows the idea of a culture of conversion: Existing buildings are not seen as a completed past but as places with a new future. The Christ the King Church itself exemplifies this transformation. Since 1998, it has no longer been used for services and has already served as an exhibition venue and the site of the Manifesta 16 Ruhr.
A Unique Faith Experience
Even without classical liturgy, a special spiritual atmosphere arises in this church space. Calm, expansiveness, and visible traces of the past connect with questions of community, responsibility, and the value of shared places. The exhibition enables a religious experience in a broader sense: it makes tangible how sacred spaces maintain their identity while also allowing for new forms of encounter.
Opening Hours and Admission
The exhibition is open on Sunday, November 22, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Admission is free. The venue is the Christ the King Church, Steinring 34, 44789 Bochum.
Conclusion: Building the Church – Cultural House Ruhr connects architecture, spirituality, memory, and societal future issues. Those who wish to experience how familiar church spaces become new places for art, knowledge, and community will find inspiring insights and strong food for thought in the Christ the King Church.
