

schneider+schumacher creates autobahn chapel siegerland in germany

photo © helen schiffer, courtesy of schneider+schumacher

based on the winning design proposal by schneider+schumacher from a competition in 2009, the ‘autobahn chapel siegerland’ provides a place for travelers to stop for worship on a highway near wilnsdorf, germany. the structure complements and contrasts the other functions comprised in the adjacent roadside stop (gas fill up, eating, sleeping), creating an opportunity for quiet contemplation and prayer. furthermore, rather than relying on bold signage to announce itself to oncoming vehicles, the church takes a visually distinctive form to communicate its presence.

the church takes an irregular and visually distinctive form to communicate its presence

photo © helen schiffer, courtesy of schneider+schumacher

the chapel’s form is a three-dimensional translation of a typical church pictogram with two pointed steeples. from a closer view, the building appears to grow out of the hillside, via its bridged walkway leading to a covered entrance. on the interior, a domed ceiling is created by a gridshell of curving wood profiles. daylight from spires’ skylights illuminate the space through the vaulted structure.

daylight enters from the skylight spires, through the open domed ceiling

photo © helen schiffer, courtesy of schneider+schumacher

the vaulted gridshell structure is constructed of engineered lumber profiles

photos © helen schiffer, courtesy of schneider+schumacher

the new highway church is composed with a square nave, two spire towers, and an access bridge at the southwest corner. the exterior has a monolith white materiality, and takes an angular and dynamic form. the internal space is shaped by a vaulted ceiling, which is constructed of 66 engineered lumber (oriented strand board) profiles. the timber ribs are slotted into one another to create a rigid and self supporting structure. the design team utilized parametric computer programs to generate the geometries and produce construction documentation, including 650 individual parts.

a short film provides views of the church as well as a description (in german) of the project by the architect

video courtesy of ERCO

a bridge walkway approaches the covered entrance

photo by dirk vogel, courtesy of ERCO

photo by dirk vogel, courtesy of ERCO

(left): the chapel volume is elevated above the landscape

(right): the gridshell structure frames the alter

photos © helen schiffer, courtesy of schneider+schumacher

architect michael schumacher describes the conceptual basis as follows: ‘motorway service areas are places with an unmistakably direct message. huge signs point to what goes on here: filling-up, eating, sleeping and maybe also, for a bit of distraction, a visit to a gaming mall. they are little cities, but without the subtle layers – no spaces for quiet contemplation or prayer, no beautiful spaces.

the small motorway church offers an opportunity to fulfil these fundamental needs, and provides these in a place where they are arguably most lacking. for a building to make an impact in such surroundings, it needs to talk the same unmistakably direct language (at least on the exterior). whether approached from afar from the dortmund direction, or from the motorway service area, the church represents a built version of the motorway church signage. even though its exterior form is abstract, it still signals in an immediate and direct way: ‘i am a church!’ ‘

the church provides a quiet space for contemplation, which is contrary to other roadside services

photo © helen schiffer, courtesy of schneider+schumacher

photo © helen schiffer, courtesy of schneider+schumacher

photo by dirk vogel, courtesy of ERCO



site plan



floor plan



section BB



section CC



south elevation



west elevation



north elevation



east elevation



wireframe



sketch



photo by dirk vogel, courtesy of ERCO



photo by dirk vogel, courtesy of ERCO



photo by dirk vogel, courtesy of ERCO



photo by dirk vogel, courtesy of ERCO



photo by dirk vogel, courtesy of ERCO



photo by dirk vogel, courtesy of ERCO

full article here

project info:

location: wilnsdorf, germany

procurement documentation: competition 03/2009

construction dates: 03/2011 – 05/2013

site area: approx. 500 sqm

gross floor area: approx. 240 sqm

gross volume: approx. 2.050 scm

dimensions: chapel, approx. 14 x 14 m + access bridge

client: autobahnkirchenverein siegerland e.V. / herr hartmut hering, frau ute pohl

architecture: schneider+schumacher planungsgesellschaft mbH

project architect: michael schumacher

project manager: hans eschmann

construction manager: kerstin högel

team: michael schumacher, hans eschmann, kerstin högel, alexander volz, ragunath vasudevan, elmar lorey, jana heidacker

structural engineers: b+g ingenieure bollinger und grohmann gmbH

building services: rpb ingenieure gmbH

surveyor: dipl.-ing. j. seelbach

structural work (reinforced concrete): w. hundhausen bauunternehmung gmbH

structural work (wood construction): holzbau amann gmbH

windows: metallbau weinmann

façade surface coating: elacoat gmbH

steel-staircase: ernst stahl- u. treppenbau gmbH

flooring: obering. kaspar könig & söhne, hartmut thielmann baugeschäft

interior wooden construction (plus furniture): schreinerei hein gmbH

lighting: ERCO gmbH

ventilation / floor heating: robin sohn gmbH

electrical work: michael pitthan gmbH

doors: metallbau weinmann, holzbau amann gmbH