Autobahnkirche Siegerland

Autobahnkirche Siegerland or Autobahnkirche an der A 45 is an ecumenical Christian road church at the Bundesautobahn 45 near Wilnsdorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Opened in 2013, the building has received several architecture awards.

Autobahnkirche Siegerland
Exterior
Map
50°49′03″N 8°05′13″E / 50.8176°N 8.0869°E / 50.8176; 8.0869
LocationWilnsdorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
DenominationEcumenic
Websitewww.autobahnkirche-siegerland.de
History
Consecrated2013 (2013)
Architecture
Architect(s)Schneider + Schumacher
Exterior, back

History

edit

The church is one of several German road churches which was initiated by private patrons and was financed primarily by donations. The building was erected following a design by Schneider + Schumacher [de] from Frankfurt which won a 2009 competition.[1] It was inaugurated on 26 May 2013 and received several architecture awards.[2]

The church is dedicated to quiet contemplation[3] by Christians of all denominations and is always open.[2][3] It is run by the Förderverein Autobahnkirche Siegerland association. The association organises a Wochenschluss-Andacht on Fridays and occasional cultural events with religious themes, such as sacred music.[2]

Architecture

edit

The exterior is based on simple geometric elements such as triangles, mostly in white.[1] The silhouette alludes to the pictogram for the German road churches. It resembles a piece of folded paper, with an allusion to two towers.[4] The entrance area features a typographic installation by Peter Zizka, quoting from Psalm 91:11 (Er hat seinen Engeln befohlen dich zu behüten auf allen deinen Wegen - For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways).[4]

The interior, dominated by wood, contrasts with the abstract exterior. An "organic" wooden structure is reminiscent of a tent.[4][5] A wooden free-standing structure is focused on the altar, enhanced by indirect lighting.[4]

Awards

edit

The building was awarded several architecture prizes, including:

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Autobahnkirche Siegerland". baunetzwissen.de (in German). Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Autobahnkirche Siegerland". Wilnsdorf (in German). Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  3. ^ a b Kippenberger, Susanne (16 April 2017). "Architektur, die berührt / Kommet zuhauf!". Der Tagesspiegel (in German). Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d "Autobahnkirche in Wilnsdorf". inspiration.detail.de (in German). Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  5. ^ Virtuose Einfachheit. Eine Autobahnkirche im Siegerland. In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 18 December 2014, international edition, p. 46.
  6. ^ "Auszeichnungen | Autobahnkirche Siegerland". www.autobahnkirche-siegerland.de.
  7. ^ "DAM Preis für Architektur in Deutschland 2013 – Die 22 besten Bauten in aus Deutschland". Deutscher Architekturmuseums (in German). Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Auszeichnungen | Autobahnkirche Siegerland". www.autobahnkirche-siegerland.de.
  9. ^ "Auszeichnungen | Autobahnkirche Siegerland". www.autobahnkirche-siegerland.de.
edit