Positioned across from Essen's town hall and gallery, the House of Church Music marks the eastern threshold of the city center. Originally constructed in the 1960s as a "mothers' school," the building gradually welcomed the cathedral choir boys, cathedral choir, Episcopal School of Church Music, and girls' choir—transforming it into the vibrant institution it is today.

In 2021, Brüning Rein Architects undertook a sensitive conversion and renovation in close collaboration with Essen's cathedral architect, Ralf Meyers. Rather than starting from scratch, they restored the building to its raw state and built thoughtfully upon it—a wise urban design choice. The plaster façade and massing feel familiar yet contemporary, anchored by an expressive, upright gable and an open ground floor that frames views into the verdant courtyard. Structurally, it's a hybrid approach: the existing concrete and stone shell was extended where needed, while timber frame construction reinforced the façades due to limited ceiling depths and structural reserves. Long-span steel frames appear in the new roof, creating the column-free spaces essential for the acoustically demanding halls. As architect Wiechers notes: "The 100-seat hall was designed and acoustically isolated from its 70-seat counterpart, finding its required volume within the new roof structure." The complex program—choirs, organ instruction, wind instruments, and early music education—demanded a carefully considered layout. Separate zones accommodate a parents' café, shared kitchen, workshops, offices, early learning and recreation areas, organ rooms, music archives, and seminar spaces. Recognizing that optimal acoustics require non-perpendicular walls, the design employs trapezoidal floor plans throughout, echoed in both the halls and façade. The interior materials are robust yet refined: oak, grey tile and stone, white acoustic ceilings and panels, complemented by expansive color fields.

www.architekten-br.de

Photography Credits:

Florian Monheim
www.bildarchiv-monheim.de

(Featured in CUBE Ruhrgebiet 03|23)