Like a giant tent rising from the ground the Immanuel-Kirche stands. This unique church in Kassel offers a fascinating blend of architectural styles and community spirit. The Immanuel-Kirche’s story began in the early 20th century. A settlement grew west of Ochshausen. Residents largely built their own homes. In 1932 a similar settlement emerged on Kassel land. It was called the Erlenfeldsiedlung. The Ochshausen area was later integrated into Kassel. It was then assigned to the Erlenfeldsiedlung.
In December 1932, the first community center was built. It was a simple wooden structure. Services were held here. A deaconess station opened in 1938. A kindergarten followed in 1948. Soon plans arose to enlarge the community center and create a church. But church authorities couldn’t provide funds. So the community built the church themselves.
Many members volunteered their labor. Local businesses and tradespeople helped. They offered free or discounted services. The Diakonissenhaus provided pews. These came from a chapel destroyed in the war. On Advent Sunday in 1950, Bishop Adolf Wüstemann dedicated the remodeled community center as the Immanuel-Kirche.
By 1961, the congregation needed a larger more modern space. The renowned architect Olaf Andreas Gulbransson was commissioned. He planned the new Immanuel-Kirche. Sadly, Gulbransson died in a car accident that year. Construction continued and the church was finished three years later. On the first Advent in 1963, the new Immanuel-Kirche was consecrated.
Gulbransson was known for his play with forms. This is evident in the Immanuel-Kirche. Its open tent structure evokes the tabernacle of the Old Testament. The church has a square layout. The walls rise as triangles. The bell tower has a pentagonal base. A hexagonal altar area is also visible. A sacristy annex completes the structure. It has a round base. The central church space has four facades. Each combines a large brick triangle with a smaller windowed one. This creates a distinctive saddle roof.
Two detached church towers stand apart. They appear to nestle together. One tower is shorter and brick-clad. It houses the bells. The other is a 50-meter-high pentagonal concrete structure. It rises above the first tower. It culminates in a point topped with a gilded cross. The taller tower was planned from the start. It was built later because of the nearby Waldau airfield flight path.
Inside the Immanuel-Kirche, the altar area is thoughtfully arranged. Pulpit, altar, and baptismal font align centrally. They highlight the key elements of Protestant worship. The altar sits on a hexagonal stone platform. Behind it are the pulpit and a stained-glass window by Hubert Distler. The window’s colors shift with the light. The baptismal font is placed forward. It suggests God’s movement toward the community.
In response to community changes, the Immanuel-Kirche was renovated from 2012 to 2014. The community house was given up. Community work was moved into the church. Two “cabinets” were added. These complement the existing style. They blend into the architecture. The cabinets create new spaces. They feature vertical oak slats with glass. The spaces can open up for larger services. This design earned awards.
As you leave the Immanuel-Kirche notice the simple beauty. It earned recognition for its design and community focus. The Immanuel-Kirche stands as a testament to faith. It is a place of worship. It is a space of community.