Project Details
Projekt
Transformations of Sacredness: Religious Architecture in Urban Space in 21st Century Germany
Subject Area
Architecture, Building and Construction History, Construction Research, Sustainable Building Technology
Religious Studies and Jewish Studies
Religious Studies and Jewish Studies
Term
from 2018 to 2022
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 390367964
Religious transformations in the wake of migration and pluralization influence the role of sacred architecture in urban space. Many churches, for instance, are in the process of re-use, closure, or even demolition. At the same time, there has been an increase of newly built mosques and a re-orientation in the architecture of synagogues in the last twenty years in Germany. The three mentioned religious traditions undergo transitions with regard to the de-sign and style of their places of worship. Often, these new designs are not easily understand-able to visitors and believers alike. In addition, the role of contemporary sacred architecture in its relation to urban space is changing: Which meanings do sacred buildings convey, how do they position themselves in urban space, and how do they structure it? In a cooperation of the study of religions and the history of architecture, we seek to study the transformations of both material and symbolic design of contemporary sacred architecture in Germany in a compara-tive manner. We will survey Christian, Islamic, and Jewish sacred buildings, i.e. new con-structions, re-used and demolished buildings since 1990 in Germany. Selected buildings will be studied in detail regarding their meaning and position in urban space.
DFG Programme
Research Grants
