Project Details
Projekt
Challenges and Opportunities of the Transformation of Sacred Space in Aachen and Leipzig: Architectural Perspectives
Applicant
Professor Ulrich Königs
Subject Area
Architecture, Building and Construction History, Construction Research, Sustainable Building Technology
Term
from 2019 to 2024
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 387623040
The architectural form of the sacred space can be regarded as the central level of perception associated with each institution, function and person involved. For a potential transformation, be it institutional, functional or technically motivated, the architectural form of the change process is of central importance. From an architectural perspective, the future intended use is usually the focus of attention. The further use as a church space, the conversion with extended liturgical contents, a transformation with church-like (semi-religious) use or with entirely secular use has a direct influence on the architectural form. However, the power of imagination of actors and decision-makers with regard to these architectural perspectives is often limited, because they lack the professionalism of architects. In this project, therefore, spatial-architectural development studies are created on the basis of case studies, which, on a comparative basis, support the system to be developed through the decision-making process. The regions of investigation of Aachen and Leipzig are treated as examples, on the one hand to raise specific questions and on the other hand, to exploit the widest possible range of transformation potential. The opportunity created by this architectural research lies in the necessary concretization of the spatial-material situation on the one hand, and on the other hand in the abstraction and associated generalizability of the statements. Methods for dealing with the criteria are combined with specific plans for architectural actions, which were carried out both textually and graphically. When exploring the architectural perspectives in the context of the research question, it should also be borne in mind that architecture should not only be regarded as a response from the inside out in this transformation process, but it should also play a correspondingly autonomous role in the discourse as an independent discipline. The challenges and opportunities of the transformation of sacred space also make it possible to provide not only answers from an outsider perspective, from the discipline of architecture, but also that individual issues and attitudes are integrated into the process. The description and analysis of this reciprocal interaction between the influence of architectural currents on sacred space transformation, and conversely, the influence of the transformation process on the architectural form, is the theme of the project.
DFG Programme
Research Units
