#Sacral building #Leipzig #1930
Description
In Leipzig, the use for reinforced concrete was already in use for quite a long time, e.g. for the Monument to the Battle of the Nations or the main railway station. The Versöhnungskirche (Church of Reconciliation) was the first sacred building in Leipzig to consist of a reinforced concrete framework.
The facade is all white. Only the entrance area in the south is decorated with the large cross, which consists of colored lead glass windows. The striking 43 meter high tower is the vertical component of the entire church building. The vertical window bands reinforce this vertical alignment. A large clock can be seen on all four sides of the tower. A subtle detail is that the clinkers, which symbolize the numbers 3 and 9 on the clock, run around the corner and which connects the two clocks, laying around the corner.
The interior is very well illuminated by the large windows. The altar does not face east, but north. The reason for this seems to be the location of the site. When the church commissioned the planning, it was even explicitly stated that the orientation of the altar was incidental. Perhaps a symbol of reconciliation with God? The lamps were mounted on the ceiling as illuminated strips, which is a bit reminiscent of an illuminated tram or underground and gives the church a truly modern appearance. The church has little interior decoration. Emphasis was placed on the colours. Pinkish, greenish and bluish tones have been used for the walls, but also for the leaded glass windows.
The cross as the most important symbol of Christians was not used hesitantly on and in the church. Whether the cross on the steeple, the large window in the south, the floor plan of the church, the shape of the ceiling, the gallery in the south area, the metal fittings on the doors and certainly other several other places.
Description
In Leipzig, the use for reinforced concrete was already in use for quite a long time, e.g. for the Monument to the Battle of the Nations or the main railway station. The Versöhnungskirche (Church of Reconciliation) was the first sacred building in Leipzig to consist of a reinforced concrete framework.
The facade is all white. Only the entrance area in the south is decorated with the large cross, which consists of colored lead glass windows. The striking 43 meter high tower is the vertical component of the entire church building. The vertical window bands reinforce this vertical alignment. A large clock can be seen on all four sides of the tower. A subtle detail is that the clinkers, which symbolize the numbers 3 and 9 on the clock, run around the corner and which connects the two clocks, laying around the corner.
The interior is very well illuminated by the large windows. The altar does not face east, but north. The reason for this seems to be the location of the site. When the church commissioned the planning, it was even explicitly stated that the orientation of the altar was incidental. Perhaps a symbol of reconciliation with God? The lamps were mounted on the ceiling as illuminated strips, which is a bit reminiscent of an illuminated tram or underground and gives the church a truly modern appearance. The church has little interior decoration. Emphasis was placed on the colours. Pinkish, greenish and bluish tones have been used for the walls, but also for the leaded glass windows.
The cross as the most important symbol of Christians was not used hesitantly on and in the church. Whether the cross on the steeple, the large window in the south, the floor plan of the church, the shape of the ceiling, the gallery in the south area, the metal fittings on the doors and certainly other several other places.
History
The Evangelical Lutheran parish of Gohlis-Nord received the name Reconciliation in 1920 and needed a church. The works on thatchurch started in 1930 and on March 6th, 1932 the church was consecrated together with the bells and the organ.
After 1933 the building was considered as too modern for the Nazis, which is why the tower and the cross-shaped window in the entrance area, as well as the interior, were defamed as part of the so-called "degenerate art" (Entartete Kunst). Towards the end of the Second World War, the building was not damaged a lot and repair work was carried out shortly afterwards. The coloured windows on the south part of the church were put in place in 1970.
In 1993, the architects Kraus and Krusenbaum began a comprehensive, historic restoration. In 2008, the original colours from the construction period insight of the church were also uncovered during the work.
History
The Evangelical Lutheran parish of Gohlis-Nord received the name Reconciliation in 1920 and needed a church. The works on thatchurch started in 1930 and on March 6th, 1932 the church was consecrated together with the bells and the organ.
After 1933 the building was considered as too modern for the Nazis, which is why the tower and the cross-shaped window in the entrance area, as well as the interior, were defamed as part of the so-called "degenerate art" (Entartete Kunst). Towards the end of the Second World War, the building was not damaged a lot and repair work was carried out shortly afterwards. The coloured windows on the south part of the church were put in place in 1970.
In 1993, the architects Kraus and Krusenbaum began a comprehensive, historic restoration. In 2008, the original colours from the construction period insight of the church were also uncovered during the work.
