The Christian Community building in Cologne-Lindenthal had reached a turning point: six decades of intensive use without significant maintenance had left its mark. Beyond aesthetic wear, the structure failed to meet the community's current needs and exhibited critical gaps in fire safety and thermal performance. Working with engaged parishioners, the architects at Jankowski Bürgener developed a holistic renovation strategy that would restore the entire complex—encompassing a sacred space alongside multiple residential units—to contemporary standards.

The well-preserved exterior walls received a mineral wool insulation layer topped with deep blue decorative plaster—a finish that evokes the building's "sky house" identity. Cornices and window sills were fashioned from mineral aggregate panels, while the roof was insulated and reclad in natural slate. A striking dormer, positioned toward the neighbouring property and aligned with the façade's fenestration rhythm, signals a contemporary church tower. Golden anodised window frames provide a thoughtful nod to the building's 1950s reconstruction. The interior demanded equally thoughtful intervention. The entrance had suffered from a 1950s compromise: the basement was partially raised to shorten access from the sunken courtyard above, leaving the reception hall cramped and unwelcoming. The solution was elegant—opening the foyer vertically through two storeys with a glass façade that broadcasts the community's vibrant spiritual and cultural life onto the street. The original concrete floor was carefully removed and replaced at a slightly lower level with generous-format porcelain tiles. The ground-floor community café was simultaneously reorganized to nearly double its footprint, while deeply recessed windows now supply both natural light and intimate seating alcoves. The first-floor consecration room retained much of its original character while gaining a new ash wood floor, timber fire doors, and improved windows for enhanced daylight and insulation. The distinctive capitals between windows were meticulously remodelled, and acoustically active plaster was applied throughout. The purple tonality characteristic of the Christian Community was reinstated by parishioners themselves, as was the small worship room below, embellished with murals inspired by Byzantine frescoes. The skylit stairwell, with its surrounding half-height balustrades, was preserved intact—only the deteriorated copper railings were replaced with untreated steel versions.

www.jankowski-buergener.de

Photography Credits:

Nicole Compère
www.compere.de

(Featured in CUBE Cologne Bonn 04|22)