Walldorf Sacristy (2004)

Project Data
 
Total GFA:   65 m2
Location:   Walldorf, Germany
Function:   Culture
Features:   Bold addition to listed church as a new landmark in public town center
Scope:   Architectural Design Concept, SD, DD, CD, Construction Supervision
 
Credit:   Fuchs Planungs AG, Weinheim
 
 
Project Summary
 
Situated in Walldorf’s town center, the neo-gothic 19th century protestant church was in need for a sacristy addition. The newly designed extension – although only 64m2 in size - had to address a multitude of interrelated issues:
 
Composed of a stainless steel shell and a fully transparent structural glazing roof between the shell and the church façade, impacts to the existing building are literally minimized to a few bolts and one horizontal waterproofing line within the existing brick work’s geometry. The former exterior wall becomes tangible as the interior of the sacristy and from within stunning views open overhead to the top of the church. Internally, the sacristy is divided into three zones, entrance / toilets, community room and minister’s room. The dividing non-load bearing closet-walls correspond with the geometry of the church’s pillars and provide ample storage space.
 
In order to give the interior privacy from and yet views towards the public plaza a double layered window was developed of a standard internal element and an open gap outer layer made of four panels per window designed by a Munich artist. The 3-dimensional etchings depict architectural details of the church and are colored beige and blue to correspond with the church’s historic windows. Continuing inside the sacristy, the floor up-lights illuminating the façade, glass and color scheme tie old and new together in a vivid harmonious dialogue.