Who could have imagined that the St. Rochus Church we see today actually rose from the ashes of its predecessor? The original St. Rochus, a magnificent neo-Romanesque structure, stood proudly on this very spot until World War II. Designed by Josef Kleesattel and completed in 1897, it boasted soaring towers, intricate apses, and could accommodate a staggering 3,400 people. Imagine the grandeur, the echoing hymns, the sheer scale of faith housed within its walls. Sadly, wartime bombings left the St. Rochus in ruins. While rebuilding was possible, the community made a bold decision: to honor the past while embracing a future of hope. This dramatic change was entrusted to architect Paul Schneider-Esleben. In 1954, a new St. Rochus, a striking modernist dome, emerged, encasing the old church’s bell tower. This poignant juxtaposition, the old tower standing sentinel beside the new, embodies the spirit of resilience and rebirth that defines the St. Rochus Church. It serves as a powerful reminder that even in the face of destruction, faith and community can find a way to rebuild and flourish.
Rank-Xerox-Haus
“Imagine working in a building shaped like a honeycomb!”” Right here, you see the Rank-Xerox-Haus, a masterpiece of Brutalist architecture.