House of Religions

Budapest University of Technology and Economics

Project idea

The idea of designing a “House of Religions” derived from the unique historical and cultural context in Hohenems, determined by the Jewish-Christian past and the growth of Islam in the present. This turns Hohenems into a special location of interreligious density. The aim of the project was to design a building, which supports the interreligious dialogue through creating a platform where individuals can meet and exchange ideas.

Project description

The site is located at the boundary of the former Jewish quarter, connecting the different religious facilities through its central positioning. A spiral-like concrete wall forms the main element of the building, which guides the visitor along their way. Three floors create the “deepening path”, representing different kinds of experiences. The ground floor embodies the physical perception of religion. The library on the first floor comprises the intellectual background, while the second floor with its room of prayer and meditation represents the spiritual experience. One of the main questions was if and how it could be possible to design a building which is open to people of all religions and cultures, without achieving this in an empty way, but is able to create spaces that people of different religions can identify with.

Technical information

The building consists of a combination of two main materials. The aim of creating a homogeneous wall is achieved through the use of reinforced insulating concrete with added glass foam granulate. In contrast to the heaviness of the concrete wall, the building is roofed by a light wooden structure behaving as a cap. In this way the building is continuing and reinterpreting regional building traditions combined with the use of local materials.

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