Kirche St. Josef

Built between 1912 and 1914, Kirche St. Josef stands as a testament to the growth of Zurich’s Industriequartier. The church’s neo-Baroque style, with its grand sweeping roof and onion-domed tower, evokes the architectural charm of Inner Switzerland. Kirche St. Josef wasn’t the first Catholic presence in the area. A combined parish house and St. Josefskapelle, now the parish hall, predates the main church. This earlier structure, designed by Alfred Chiodera and Theophil Tschudy, opened in 1904. The rapid influx of Catholics into the Industriequartier necessitated a larger church. The renowned architects Curjel & Moser, known for St. Anton Church in Hottingen, received the commission for Kirche St. Josef. Their design, refined with input from Bishop Georg Schmid von Grüneck and Father Albert Kuhn, echoes their original, neo-Baroque concept for St. Anton. A young Anton Higi served as the construction manager for Kirche St. Josef. Years later, he designed the similar-looking Guthirtkirche in the neighboring Wipkingen district. The cornerstone of Kirche St. Josef was laid in 1912, marking the sixth Catholic church built in Zurich after the Reformation. The church officially opened its doors in 1914. In 1916, Kirche St. Josef became an independent parish. The church underwent significant renovations in 1964-65 under architect Eberhard Hagenmüller. Artist Hans Tomamichel oversaw the artistic elements of this renovation. Further renovations took place in the 1980s, adding a crypt dedicated to Mater Salvatoris. More recent renovations occurred in 1989, 2001, and 2010, ensuring Kirche St. Josef continues to serve its community. Inside, the church features slender columns with Byzantine-inspired capitals. These capitals cleverly conceal concrete supports. The side aisles are cross-vaulted. Art Nouveau elements, visible on the Baroque-style altars, highlight the church’s modernity. The original altar paintings, depicting the Holy Family and Zurich’s patron saints Felix and Regula, date back to 1914. Stained-glass windows, designed by C. Roesch and Giuseppe Scartezzini, illuminate the church’s interior with vibrant colors. The windows portray biblical scenes and a host of saints. The crypt, accessible from the courtyard, features enamel images of the Stations of the Cross and the Resurrection. These pieces are the work of Willy Charles Erismann, who also contributed to the restoration of Herz Jesu Wiedikon. Kirche St. Josef is a fascinating blend of architectural styles. It incorporates elements of Neo-Baroque, Art Nouveau, and Heimatstil. The high church roof, the ornate capitals, and the altar compositions reflect this unique fusion. The church shares architectural kinship with the Reformed churches in Flawil and St. Gallen, also designed by Curjel & Moser.