Beneath that copper roof, a unique story unfolds at the ehem. Gerhard-Uhlhorn-Kirche. This is not your typical church tale. The Gerhard-Uhlhorn-Kirche, named after Gerhard Uhlhorn, was completed in 1963. Reinhard Riemerschmid designed it. Before that, the congregation met in a converted boathouse.
Notice the architecture. It is typical of the 1960s. The church features exposed aggregate concrete walls. A steep, open hipped roof is covered in copper. The freestanding bell tower is slender. Locals call it “God’s microphone” due to its distinctive shape. The four crosses united to form a crown symbolize an ear of wheat.
The ehem. Gerhard-Uhlhorn-Kirche sits idyllically on the banks of the Leine. It is considered an urban landmark. The interior is clearly structured. It is free of supports. The full size of the sacred space is revealed.
Inside the ehem. Gerhard-Uhlhorn-Kirche, light filters through colored windows. These windows, installed in 1999, were crafted by Berlin glass painter Ingrid Schuhknecht. They illustrate the second to sixth days of creation.
In 2009, the Gerhard-Uhlhorn congregation merged with the Bethlehem Church congregation. Together, they formed the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Linden-Nord.
The Gerhard-Uhlhorn-Kirche served as a worship space during the restoration of Bethlehem Church. But after Bethlehem Church reopened, the Gerhard-Uhlhorn-Kirche was deconsecrated in 2012. It stood for sale until 2016.
Two project developers bought the ehem. Gerhard-Uhlhorn-Kirche in March 2016. They converted it into student housing starting in autumn 2018. The exterior largely retains its original form. However, facade slots were cut into the original concrete glass window facades for loggias.
The former nave now contains 31 small student apartments. These living units are spread over two floors. Common rooms were also created. The altar and hanging cross were veiled. Students moved into the ehem. Gerhard-Uhlhorn-Kirche in September 2019.
The conversion of the ehem. Gerhard-Uhlhorn-Kirche preserved an important urban symbol. The main focus was on the church’s interior. New architectural elements complement the original geometry. Adjusted cubes arrange the new structure for student living. Interventions create an intense dialogue with the old construction.
The former organ gallery is now a communal kitchen. Cuttings were made to create a transition to the apartment gallery. These cuttings remain visible. Christian elements have been preserved but architecturally defamiliarized.
The 17-meter-high roof space is made of untreated wood cladding. The 7-meter-high stained glass windows produce unique effects. New elements are built of steel frames. The 27 rooms and two communal kitchens follow a house-in-house principle. The nave serves as an uninsulated transition space. Narrow slots were cut into the facade. They provide natural light to the student rooms.
Today, the ehem. Gerhard-Uhlhorn-Kirche stands as a testament to innovative reuse. It’s a place where students cook in a former organ loft. Church pews now serve as seating in communal kitchens. This transformation preserves history while providing modern living space. A unique blend of the sacred and the secular defines this remarkable building.