Beyond the Rather Platz in Düsseldorf-Oberbilk stands St. Joseph’s Church. This church whispers stories of faith, architecture, and community. It is a testament to Düsseldorf’s rich history.
St. Joseph’s Church, completed in 1909, was designed by architect Josef Kleesattel. Its function is that of a Catholic Church. The church’s architecture reflects the historicism style, a nod to the past.
The Josephskapelle, a baroque chapel in Düsseldorf’s Old Town, offers a contrasting yet complementary story. Designed by Matteo Alberti, it was completed in 1716. This chapel features a Greek cross layout. Tiepolo students painted its ceilings. Maria Anna Amalia Auguste von Pfalz-Sulzbach served as a priorin here in the 1720s and 30s.
During World War II, the Josephskapelle suffered destruction in 1943. It was rebuilt in the 1950s. Restoration efforts in the 1970s aimed to return it to its original state. From 1989 to 1996, the chapel’s interior underwent restoration. Wolfram Köberl created neorococo-style frescoes in 1994 and 1995. The chapel serves as the final resting place for Émilie Schneider, a Catholic religious woman and mystic. Since 2013, a Samuel Green organ has resided in the chapel. Built in 1795 for St. Mary’s Church in Chatham, GB, the organ was later moved to Düsseldorf.
St. Joseph’s Church provides a simple but recognizable design. The design expresses an abstraction. Two rectangles touch each other at the corner. The stone rises to open the sepulcher. Verticals of color project light from within at night. Light-colored glass, wood, concrete brick, and stained glass make up the limited material palette.
Inside St. Joseph’s Church, light is modulated. It accompanies the hierarchy of spaces. Sections of “matter” seem to detach. This allows the light to penetrate and transform. The ceiling floats above the walls. The choir wall stops at the boundary with light. Skylights pierce the ceiling. One skylight illuminates the altar, another the baptistery. The walls feature 14 openings symbolizing the Way of the Cross. The congregation space is covered with wood.
The design uses a concrete structure. This creates a column-free nave. The façade is composed of concrete bricks. The bricks’ durability and color were carefully considered. The use of 5 cm modules creates thin horizontal lines. These lines contrast with the vertical stained-glass windows.
As you leave St. Joseph’s Church, consider the layers of history. Reflect on the faith, art, and community.