What do you do if your chapel is destroyed? You rebuild it, of course. That’s exactly what happened to the Kapelle in Cologne. The Kapelle we see today, a simple, one-aisled brick structure, is not the original. It was rebuilt between 1947 and 1950 after being destroyed in World War II. The rebuilding of the Kapelle was led by architect Rudolf Schwarz. He decided to rotate the new structure 180 degrees from the original. This unusual orientation means that the choir now faces west instead of the traditional east. The most striking feature of the Kapelle is the large glass facade that makes up almost the entire east gable. It bathes the interior in natural light. In contrast to the bright east side, the north wall has only a few small windows, lending it a more intimate and contemplative atmosphere. The south wall is adorned with a colorful arched window designed by Georg Meistermann, adding a touch of artistic flair. The heart of the Kapelle is a Pietà, a sculpture depicting the Virgin Mary cradling the dead body of Jesus. This poignant work of art is not on an altar, as you might expect. It’s displayed in a glass case on a pedestal, drawing the viewer’s eye and inviting quiet contemplation. The Kapelle might be a reconstruction, but its history and the devotion it inspires are as tangible as the bricks and mortar it’s built with.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to