A symphony of grey and red brick greets you. This is the Klarenbachkirche. It stands before you a testament to post-war reconstruction. Its unique design isn’t just a building. It’s a story etched in concrete and glass.
The Klarenbachkirche in Dusseldorf-Holthausen is more than just a place of worship. It’s a living monument. It tells a tale of faith resilience and architectural innovation. Built in 1955 it rose from the ashes of a war-torn nation. The architects Professors Walter Kongeter and Dr E Petersen created this masterpiece. They used a long trapezoidal floor plan. Four steel-reinforced arches form the structural framework.
The Klarenbachkirche’s exterior is striking. The side walls and the front are clad in multicolored reddish-grey clinker bricks. The entrance is unique. It’s a double-glazed concrete facade with a square grid pattern. The concrete supports dominate the facade’s appearance. The gabled central section is flanked by narrower fields that gently rise outward. The roof follows this folded design with steel concrete beams. It’s covered in copper on the outside and wood inside. The main entrance features a wide overhanging canopy. It’s centrally located.
The interior is just as captivating. A three-aisled space gently slopes towards the altar area. The altar is raised on three steps. On the left is a lectern integrated into the steps. The baptismal font stands on the right. Tall concrete windows flank the altar. They echo the facade’s design. Above the entrance is an organ and choir loft with side staircases. A large relief adorns the altar wall. It depicts the dove of the Holy Spirit descending upon four streams of paradise. These symbolize baptism. The relief includes wavy bands separated by thinner stripes with ears of wheat. This represents the sacramental bread. Grapes on the baptismal font symbolize the wine.
The church tower stands apart. It’s placed in front of the left outer wall. Two sculptural pillars connect it to the church. It sits on an open base of exposed concrete. Four tapering stories of angular prefabricated concrete elements with perforated brick infill are above this. The bell tower has a cross-shaped paneling with wooden sound baffles. The tower is linked to the church by a forecourt accessible via four steps. A single-story residential wing is attached to the north. It’s made of brickwork with clinker cladding. It has a flat shed roof.
The Klarenbachkirche isn’t just a building. It’s a place of spiritual solace and a beautiful example of post-war architecture. The church’s bell tower houses a substantial chime of four bells cast in 1955. The church organ built in 1956 by the Karl Schuke Berlin organ workshop is a marvel of craftsmanship. It has 40 stops across three manuals and a pedal. It has undergone restoration work in 1994. The Klarenbachkirche is named after the martyr Adolf Clarenbach. His life and faith helped shape the very essence of this unique Dusseldorf landmark.