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Church St. Marien (Reconstruction)
Kalker Hauptstrasse
1950 - 1952
The neo-Gothic St. Mary's Church in Cologne, built in 1865, has been partially destroyed by an air raid in 1943. The enclosing walls of the three-aisled hall were preserved so far,
that a reconstraction could be taken into account. After completion of the Chapel of Grace, which belongs to the St. Mary's Church, Rudolf Schwarz began with
the reconstruction in 1950. The rhythm of the space is preserved, since eight slender steel columns were placed on the foundations of the former columns. These 17 meter
high steel columns are made of crossed wide flange beams. Four lamps grow out of each of the steel columns. The steep gable roof is visible on the inside, it is clad with
large-scale white-painted acoustic panels. The ridge, at a height of 21 m, extends over the reconstructed sanctuary. The surviving segment arch windows of the nave
were clearly glazed. Between the masonry and the roof Rudolf Schwarz has placed a continuous band of windows. This band separates new and old substance of the building.
The windows of the conch are bricked up. In the center of the sanctuary is located the altar made of red sandstone. A total of three entrances gives acces to the church.
One entrance goes through the tower in the longitudinal axis, the other two entrances are located aside. Above the central entrance the gallery protrudes into the space.
A second gallery is incised into the tower further above. The roof of the tower, destroyed during the war, is replaced by a flat tent roof. In 1965 the character of the church
was changed significantly, due to the installation of colored windows by Georg Meistermann.
The Baroque Chapel of Grace was completely destroyed by air raids in 1941. The miraculous medieval Picture of Grace showing the Sorrowful Mother of God, however,
remained intact. This prompted the early reconstruction of the chapel immediately after the war. Already in 1946, designs by Rudolf Schwarz and Harperscheid were submitted.
The architects showed a completely different attitude. While Harpescheid followed the inspiration of building tradition, the proposal by Rudolf Schwarz was breaking with the past.
The decision was in favor of Rudolf Schwarz. The Picture of Grace is made the center of the chapel. The space is defined as an elongated apse which develops around
the Picture of Grace. The entrance to the chapel is made through the fully glazed rear wall. A large arched window, which extends from the floor to the barrel-vaulted ceiling,
casts light onto the altar. Two arched windows in an elevated position brighten the rear part of the room. The entire chapel is covered by a gabled roof, which is hipped over the apse.
Above the entrance area is located a steel roof turret with a bell. Inside the chapel is painted white. The floor is covered with mosaic made vom marble plate rubbles.
The outside of the Chapel is made of exposed brick rubble masonry.
The area surrounding the chapel and the Church of St. Mary's was designed by Rudolf Schwarz. A Way of the Cross circles around the Church of St. Mary's.
This crossway is taken by the processions which end in the Chapel of Grace in front of the miraculous image. The outside space is dominated by sculptures and debris
which were part of the St. Mary's Church.
that a reconstraction could be taken into account. After completion of the Chapel of Grace, which belongs to the St. Mary's Church, Rudolf Schwarz began with
the reconstruction in 1950. The rhythm of the space is preserved, since eight slender steel columns were placed on the foundations of the former columns. These 17 meter
high steel columns are made of crossed wide flange beams. Four lamps grow out of each of the steel columns. The steep gable roof is visible on the inside, it is clad with
large-scale white-painted acoustic panels. The ridge, at a height of 21 m, extends over the reconstructed sanctuary. The surviving segment arch windows of the nave
were clearly glazed. Between the masonry and the roof Rudolf Schwarz has placed a continuous band of windows. This band separates new and old substance of the building.
The windows of the conch are bricked up. In the center of the sanctuary is located the altar made of red sandstone. A total of three entrances gives acces to the church.
One entrance goes through the tower in the longitudinal axis, the other two entrances are located aside. Above the central entrance the gallery protrudes into the space.
A second gallery is incised into the tower further above. The roof of the tower, destroyed during the war, is replaced by a flat tent roof. In 1965 the character of the church
was changed significantly, due to the installation of colored windows by Georg Meistermann.
The Baroque Chapel of Grace was completely destroyed by air raids in 1941. The miraculous medieval Picture of Grace showing the Sorrowful Mother of God, however,
remained intact. This prompted the early reconstruction of the chapel immediately after the war. Already in 1946, designs by Rudolf Schwarz and Harperscheid were submitted.
The architects showed a completely different attitude. While Harpescheid followed the inspiration of building tradition, the proposal by Rudolf Schwarz was breaking with the past.
The decision was in favor of Rudolf Schwarz. The Picture of Grace is made the center of the chapel. The space is defined as an elongated apse which develops around
the Picture of Grace. The entrance to the chapel is made through the fully glazed rear wall. A large arched window, which extends from the floor to the barrel-vaulted ceiling,
casts light onto the altar. Two arched windows in an elevated position brighten the rear part of the room. The entire chapel is covered by a gabled roof, which is hipped over the apse.
Above the entrance area is located a steel roof turret with a bell. Inside the chapel is painted white. The floor is covered with mosaic made vom marble plate rubbles.
The outside of the Chapel is made of exposed brick rubble masonry.
The area surrounding the chapel and the Church of St. Mary's was designed by Rudolf Schwarz. A Way of the Cross circles around the Church of St. Mary's.
This crossway is taken by the processions which end in the Chapel of Grace in front of the miraculous image. The outside space is dominated by sculptures and debris
which were part of the St. Mary's Church.