Artistic design for the “Interreligious Space” in the CARITAS Integration House, Innsbruck, 2023.


Space for meditation, contemplation, prayer, yoga, relaxation, devotion, etc. The room should therefore have a contemplative, inspiring, inviting, thought-provoking design so that people feel at home here and enjoy being here.  

Walls: Concrete construction, quite rough “exposed concrete”, brutalist. Gray on gray, cold, rather repellent. 
Daylight is limited by: Windows facing north, so there is no direct sun. The triple glazing also filters out light. The room is also in the basement. (In my opinion, the design of the windows has to be very reduced and precise so as not to take away even more light. I chose transparent, printed film stickers because this filters the least amount of light in this situation). 

Artistic design  

My artistic design takes into account the above-mentioned spatial situation as well as the physical and spiritual needs of the users and creates a connection between the intended use, existing architecture and people. The design of the room should also create the impression of an embrace, hence the emphasis on the round shapes, here especially on the proposed partition.

West wall

The starting point for the design is the large west wall made of exposed concrete.

   Here I show an abstract form that allows for multi-layered interpretation possibilities for every faith, gives the room an atmospherically warm lighting effect (sunlight) and introduces a dynamic movement that playfully softens the optical massiveness and heaviness of the exposed concrete, but still allows it to be experienced. The wall painting is glazed so that on the one hand the concrete wall remains visible as a visual support and on the other hand the wall is opened with the swirling portal so that warm (sun) light can appear in the room.

 
We see the meeting of several “perspectives” that come together in this place from different (faith) directions, meet each other and only together create the spiral/sun that we see on the wall. This portal opens the wall and leads the view into another “dimension”, into a metaphysical space, beyond physical space.

  
People are invited to follow the perspectives, the lines and paths into this portal and to form their own ideas about where these paths lead. The subject is dynamic but also contemplative and therefore offers stimulating and calming elements. Every person can decide for themselves which interpretation they want to follow.

  
Window front

The window design takes up the perspective curves of the subject on the west wall and becomes part of this color and movement dynamic. The curves on the windows are deliberately not drawn over the entire glass in order to enable views to the outside, but at the same time to ensure a certain level of privacy. The warm, translucent color films allow a lot of daylight to pass through and give the light a very subtle warm yellow and orange tone.

  
East wall

The design continues on the recommended dividing wall to the east, where the perspective lines make a meteoric movement towards each other, reminiscent of an embrace. Here the space intended for meditation is closed by a symbol of security. Being held in our arms is one of the first experiences we humans have. For us it means safety, security and a relaxed atmosphere in which we can find ourselves.

  
Corridor area

The interreligious room is located in the basement in the immediate vicinity of the underground car park, so you wouldn't immediately suspect that there is a room with this purpose here. The entrance faces the underground car park and is accessed in a rather winding way from the main staircase and courtyard entrance. Since the space in the building is free like a house, I suggest also including the outside (corner and wall in the hallway area) in the design in order to give users the opportunity to perceive this space from the hallway. The design can then visually “guide” you to the entrance. I therefore suggest clearly visible labeling at the corner.

Artistic design for the entrance area QSL Braunschweig, 2023

"Connection"

The starting point for the artistic design is the gable wall of the external camp:

As a subject for the entrance area of the Sankt Leonhard district, I chose two abstract head outlines that intertwine like chain links and form an infinity loop. It symbolizes the “connection” between people from the past and the future who come together in this place, meet each other, live together and work together across generations. Carried by Jesus' promise to his disciples in the speech about life in the community. “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20)

Just like time and space, light also plays an essential role in this representation. It is the light in each of us that defines us and that we share with the community. Taking up the basic idea of community, the entrance area should radiate the warm and pleasant atmosphere of a sunrise, because “You are the light of the world. “The city that is on a mountain cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14). The color orange stands for this inner light, liveliness but also spirituality, our soul self.

This basic idea is, so to speak, the portal that everyone who enters the building passes through and can thus take part in the community.

At this point I would like to point out once again the abstract head outlines that not only represent the individual in the community but also the different functions and roles that these people take on. It's about the contribution that people make to the community in their role and the care they receive in their role as part of the community. The work attracts the gaze of passers-by, just as a face looking at us always does. It is the face, the calling card of this building and area. It invites us to enter this world of our own.

Artistic design for the inner courtyard as a prayer room in the Bundeswehr Hospital in Koblenz, 2022

Invited competition to obtain designs for the artistic design of the inner courtyard of the newly built Bubndeswehr Hospital in Koblenz.

INFINITY

Corten steel sculpture
Subject: Möbius loop (infinity sign) consisting of 2 head silhouettes.

The sculpture is located in a garden in the building's inner courtyard, which is geometrically designed thematically as a “paradise garden”.
Following this geometry, I designed a metal sculpture consisting of a single metal band. It forms into an infinity
Loop that creates two head outlines.
With this topic I will particularly focus on the view from the prayer/farewell room:
The infinity loop (Möbius loop) symbolizes the eternal process of transformation, becoming and passing away. The figure also reminds us of a figurative gateway from this world to the afterlife, from one state to the next.
Here I managed to choose a symbolism that goes beyond all denominations and is reminiscent of a natural principle of life.
Corten steel shows the aging and passage of time through its ability to weather and acquires an organic property through rust.