https://www.architecturalrecord.com/rss/1350 en-us A firm turns a 1960's church into a place of final repose and, once again, worship.

]]> 1502-saint-bartholomaus-church-kissler-effgen-architects.asp Sun, 15 Feb 2015 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/7422-st-bartholom-us-church St. Bartholom'us Church The chapel, in addition to a new bronze and steel pulpit and concrete altar, houses the original pine benches.   Photo © Dietmar Strauss St. Bartholom'us Church Because the Catholic faith prohibits services in cemeteries, the architects inserted an ethereal bronze mesh enclosure to separate the columbarium from the sanctuary.   Photo © Dietmar Strauss St. Bartholom'us Church The church of St. Bartholomäus, designed by modernist architect Hans Schwippert in 1960, shut down in 2006. It was revived as a columbarium last January by Kissler + Effgen Architects at the request of the church's parishioners.   Photo © Dietmar Strauss St. Bartholom'us Church Custom black-steel cabinets, which contain 1,600 niches for some 2,400 urns, line the periphery of the sanctuary.   Photo © Dietmar Strauss St. Bartholom'us Church Sculptures carved in 1988 by Ludêk Tichý ornament the sides of these cabinets.   Photo © Dietmar Strauss St. Bartholom'us Church Bronze plaques seal each niche when filled.   Photo © Dietmar Strauss St. Bartholom'us Church The mesh partition, measuring 23 by 33 feet, stretches from floor tracks to steel bars attached to the church's concrete ceiling beams.   Image courtesy Kissler + Effgen Architects St. Bartholom'us Church The sections, which cut through the sanctuary, show the stained-glass windows on the east wall.   Image courtesy Kissler + Effgen Architects St. Bartholom'us Church The sections, which cut through the sanctuary, show the sanctuary's cross in front of the north wall.   Image courtesy Kissler + Effgen Architects