Bielefeld-Bethel „Glück und Seligkeit“

Context

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The protestant Martini church was built in a neo-gothic style and consecrated in 1898. In 1909, the church was extended by the addition of a southern side aisle and a bell tower. The protestant parish handed over the church to a Greek-orthodox community in 1975 for religious use. The church had then fallen vacant in 2002 and was sold to a local catering business for a symbolic price. The plot remains in the possession of the Church and was let as a hereditary lease.

Project description

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In 2002, the church was in a deplorable structural condition. The building was hence first of all comprehensively refurbished and a kitchen extension was added. The original structures (leaded windows, spatial layout) were preserved and restored (wainscoting on the ceiling) so that a religious function could be taken up again, if desired, without extensive conversions being required, should the catering operation discontinue.

Several guest areas as well as the corresponding infrastructures (bar, sanitary facilities, reception) were integrated within the church. The outdoor area was linked up with the indoor space.

The change of use was registered in the purchase agreement along with a corresponding exemption clause concerning unsuitable uses. The unsuitable uses are specified in various technical aids for church conversions and include immoral uses, for example.

The presentation of the concept and the corresponding coordination with the church parish ensured that there were few reservations concerning this type of new use. The building is not listed.

Project chronology

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Year	Event
2002	First inspection of the object
2003	Negotiations with the Church/concept presentation
2004	Real estate purchase
2005	Construction start in spring
2005	Opening in autumn

Aims

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• Integration of catering functions
• Preservation of original structures
• Preservation of the atmosphere

Types of measures

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• Comprehensive refurbishment and restoration
• Addition of a kitchen / staff building
• Installation of the required restaurant infrastructure
• Development of the outdoor area with a playground

Innovations

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A secular use was established in a church. This lends the project a model character, especially in view of the church closures to be expected in the future. The careful integration of restaurant functions in the existing structures, which allows for a potential re-use as a church, is particularly exemplary. Another positive aspect is the preservation of the exterior symbolism, the structural changes in the outdoor area being very discreet.

Sources

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• Bruns, Hans Martin (2006): Orte zum Ambiente. Restaurant in der Martini-Kirche in Bielefeld (Places Matching Ambiances. Restaurant in the Martini-Church in Bielefeld). In: Bauwelt magazine 5/2006 p.26+27
• Ev. Kirche von Westfalen (Protestant Church of Westphalia) (2001): Kirchen – umbauen, neu nutzen, umwidmen (Churches – Conversion, New Uses, Re-Dedications). (Online at http://www.ekvw.de/fileadmin/sites/ekvw/Dokumente/te_u_do_alt/kirchbau.pdf - 3,3MB, PDF)

Further information

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• http://www.glueckundseligkeit.de
• Bruns, Hans Martin (2006): Orte zum Ambiente. Restaurant in der Martini-Kirche in Bielefeld (Places Matching Ambiances. Restaurant in the Martini-Church in Bielefeld). In: Bauwelt magazine 5/2006 p.26+27

The projekt site ist to be found at postal code: 33617 - town: Bielefeld - street: Artur-Ladebeck-Str. 57.

Protagonists

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• Achim Fiolka Living Event GmbH, Bergkamp 2 33824 Werther, tel. (05203) 881681, fax: 0 52 03 – 88 16 82 info@glueckundseligkeit.de
• Kirchenkreis Bielefeld (Bielefeld Parish), Astrid Weyermüller, Public relations assistant, Markgrafenstraße 7 33602 Bielefeld, tel. (0521) 5837180 weyermueller@kk-ekvw.de, http://www.kirche-bielefeld.de/
• Heinrich Martin Bruns Architekt BDA, Klosterplatz 6 33602 Bielefeld, tel. (0521) 964660 info@brunsarchitekten.de, http://www.brunsarchitekten.de/