Rebuilding
location
Munich
year
1996 - Competition/ 2nd Prize
client
Erzbischöfliches Ordinariat, Baureferat
size
400 sqm
architect
Meier-Scupin & Petzet
team
Muck Petzet, Christoph Mayr
The new church is situated on sanctified ground of the ruins of the burnt-down Herz Jesu. The nave follows the orientation and position of the former structure. Thus the new structure follows the community’s liturgical traditions and routes: the path from the Lachnerstraße entrance to the high portal, the anteroom under the gallery and the central aisle north towards the altar. In the new building another route is added: from the spacious square through the wide portal and from the anteroom of the low side-aisle southwards towards the holy Mary bathed in heavenly light.
The movement of light and space connects the opposite sides and directions. Starting from the high eastern window, the movement absorbs the side aisle to circulate around and finally focus upon the altar. The thrust of the light and space in the altar area connects these opposite directions: It starts from the high east window and encompasses the side aisle into its movement, circulating around and focussing on the altar. Hence, the church fills the sacred site to offer a place for gathering different directions and movements, different people, minds and spirits.