Could you imagine a church that embraces both life and death? This is the Kolumbariumskirche Heilige Familie in Osnabrueck. It is not just a church. It is a unique space where the living and the departed coexist.
Kolumbariumskirche Heilige Familie stands as a religious focal point for the people. Here, they celebrate the divine in the life of the community. Completed in 1960, the church adopted a groundbreaking concept. It transformed into a Kolumbariumskirche in 2010.
What exactly is a Kolumbariumskirche? It serves as both a place of worship and a burial site. It is a final resting place for urns containing the ashes of the deceased. The Kolumbariumskirche offers 1200 urn places.
The architecture of the Kolumbariumskirche symbolically intertwines life and death. The worship area lies at the heart of the circular church. Urn corridors surround it in a semicircle open to the entrance. There are no barriers between the worship and mourning spaces. Right at the entrance stands the baptismal font. It reminds us that baptism marks entry into the church. The Kolumbariumskirche connects baptism and death. It allows much room to celebrate life in faith between them.
The parish community remains a central expression. It refers to God and completion. The Kolumbarium refers to heaven and eternity. Circular wall panels of natural clay separate the community space. They also separate the Kolumbarium. Walls and floors form the base for bright brass closure plates. Each plate is an expression of the heavenly. Each person has their own identity and radiance.
Urns can be placed in the walls. It can be single, double, or multiple placements next to each other. A dignified inscription lists names, birth, and death dates. It reminds us of the equality and uniqueness of every person.
In 2022, an expansion added 895 urn spaces. Architect Tobias Klodwig explained the expansion’s concept. The extension takes up existing elements. It sets new accents never seen before in church construction. A glazed corridor leads visitors through nature. It leads into a uniquely exciting center. Three dark clay panels surround a bright center.
The large light eye with its cross structure immediately catches the eye. The cross brings light. The large round surface on the floor reveals a large mirror structure. The scripture “Now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face” clarifies the space’s spiritual power.
The light eye in the ceiling creates a connection. It connects the earthly and the heavenly. It connects the here and now with eternity. When looking into the mirror, one sees an abyss. You can also see the clouds in the sky. You can see the world from above. The impressions are unique. They allow us to explore existential questions. Dark clouds pass by. They eventually reveal the blue, redeeming sky. Walls and floors form the base for the golden nameplates.
Warm wooden benches provide comfort in the interior. The Kolumbariumskirche makes the community of the living and dead tangible. It invites reflection on one’s own life. It opens the view to heaven.
The Kolumbariumskirche Heilige Familie won the German Lighting Design Prize in 2023. Here, the community honors the departed. The Kolumbariumskirche holds special services. All Souls’ Day features a service. It includes blessings and remembrance.
The Kolumbariumskirche in Osnabrueck stands as a testament. It shows how a sacred space can embrace all stages of existence. It offers solace, reflection, and a sense of community. It unites the living and the dead.