©Ruedi Walti

Architectural Expression.
The irregular shape of the plot gives the building its distinctive character. The sides follow the geometry of the boundaries, resulting in an irregular footprint. In section, the gallery and the uses on the upper floor define the gabled roof form. The result is a pure, sculptural architectural body composed of several inclined planes set against one another.
 
Cladding.
Externally, the façades are given a uniform cladding that serves as a protective weather skin, drawn continuously across all openings. This gives the solitary building a new scale and sets it apart from the surrounding profane architecture.
 
Organization.
Visitors enter the church through a deep entrance niche, before reaching the massive, sculptural core of the building. The sloping ceiling of the foyer and the narrowing space guide the movement into the nave, which in turn opens towards the rear, where the gallery is located. The upper floor is accessed via a lofty, sculptural stairwell, whose walls and skylit ceiling again emphasize the sense of movement.
 
Materiality.
Tension arises from the contrasting materiality of the flowing foyer, circulation, and church spaces on the one hand, and the supporting service rooms on the other. The flowing, interconnected spaces are finished in a homogeneous, bright palette, creating a sacral atmosphere (“heaven”). In contrast, the capsule-like smaller rooms are clad in colored materials in earthy and bluish tones (“earth”).

Architecture / Design Firm:
Dürig AG, Zurich; Jean-Pierre Dürig
Contributors Dürig AG:
Bruce A. Buckingham, Michel Gübeli, Martin Wengle, Jörg Magdeburg, Ludmila Thomann
 
Planning Team:
Site supervision
Architekturbüro Martin Richner, Arch. HTL, Gränichen; Martin Richner, Thomas Ettle
 
Construction engineering
Wilhelm & Wahlen, Aarau; Andreas Wilhelm, Michele Carrer, Nicola Amati
 
Cost planner
Sulzer+Buzzi Baumanagement AG; Davide Buzzi, S. Rothenanger
 
HVAC + light planning
Amstein + Walthert AG, Zurich; Felix Bleuler, Roger Inderbitzin, Peter Lüthi, Beat Riedweg, Björn Schrader, Urs Schümperli, Reto Schwarz, Dani Tschudy, Stefan Walser
 
Construction physics and acoustics
Braune Roth AG, Zurich; Bernard Braune, Andreas Roth
 
Fire control
Hautle Anderegg + Partner AG, Bern; Felix Anderegg, Bernard Hautle
 
Geology and groundwater
Ackermann + Wernli, Aarau; Hans-Urs Ackermann
 
Metal construction
Metall Küssnacht AG, Küssnacht am Rigi; Stefan Kaiser