Page 5 - AIT0725_Kolumbarium

SERIEN PERSPEKTIVWECHSEL • CHANGE OF PERSPECTIVE

business independently. This entrepreneurial flexibility enables us to successfully revitalize
even challenging buildings in the long term.

r The Freies Kolumbarium Rheinkirche in Duisburg-Homberg is a fascinating, poetic
space. How did this project come about?
A friend told me about the planned sale of the listed Rheinkirche, and we quickly got in
touch with the parish. The parish was relieved to find a buyer who did not want to demo-
lish the building but wanted to develop a respectful new use for it. We were attracted by
the challenge of finding a suitable concept for such a special property that would preserve
the high, open proportions of the church. The idea of a columbarium came about relatively
quickly – without us knowing what that would mean for us. We had no previous experi-
ence with funeral- and mourning culture, but found it exciting to think about the subject
from a new perspective. Our goal was to create a place that would be good for the berea-
ved and where they would know that their loved ones were in good hands. A home for
those who are no longer here, but not really gone – a kind of “shared flat for the dead”. The
columbarium is free of religious restrictions, so that every family can arrange the funeral
service in a way that would have suited the deceased. Many people want to be buried in
a place where their loved ones can come to remember them, mourn them or feel close to
them – but without any obligations. At the Kolumbarium, the relatives don’t have to worry
Nach Jahren des Leerstands: Denkmalgerechte Umnutzung der ehemaligen ... • Conversion of the former ... about anything. That’s our responsibility. Today, the Kolumbarium is not only a quiet place
of remembrance, but also a lively space for concerts and exhibitions where people can
share experiences with their deceased loved ones. What could be more beautiful?

r The high architectural standards of the columbarium are evident in its shelving struc-
ture and flexible yet clear design code. How important was this?
It was essential for us. Together with our interior designers, we developed various designs
to create a structure that blends into the church but still stands on its own. It was impor-
tant to us that no new levels were added to the nave and that the shelf structure had no
connection to the existing walls or the wooden ceiling. At nine metres high, this was a real
structural challenge, but the untreated oak wood creates a calm, high-quality and down-
to-earth effect. We carefully selected all the materials and produced numerous 1:1 scale
models to test their effect in the space. The design options for urn spaces have been deli-
berately reduced to maintain a harmonious atmosphere, while still allowing scope for indi-
viduality. We love combining high-quality materials with simple, uncomplicated elements
to highlight their natural beauty. There is space for a total of 6,000 urns, but we have deli-
berately only filled 60 percent of the structure to preserve light and airiness. The coloured
light cubes in the upper shelf structure echo the tones of the leaded windows and create
a soft, almost meditative atmosphere – especially in the evening hours or on cloudy days.

r How difficult was it to get permission from the authorities to build this columbarium
... Düsseldorfer Unionbrauerei zu Mietwohnungen • ... Düsseldorf Union Brewery into rental apartments in the middle of the city?
The approval process by the building and monument authorities was surprisingly straight-
Blick ins Architekturbüro von Küssdenfrosch • A look inside the Küssdenfrosch architecture office forward, everyone involved supported the project and was pleased that the church would
be preserved. Nevertheless, you can’t just open a cemetery and run it privately in Germa-
ny. To run a columbarium privately, you need extensive statutes, fee schedules and official
permits. Obtaining approval from the district government to operate a “cemetery” was a
particularly complex and lengthy process. It took three years to obtain all the necessary
permits, complete the planning and draw up the fee schedule.

r How does this business model work and how high is the demand?
We operate the Kolumbarium ourselves because there are no comparable concepts in this
form and we couldn‘t find a suitable operator. So, we had no choice but to put together
our own team. We wanted to create a place that is more than just a resting place – a
space for free burials, but also for art, music and encounters. A place where not only the
living, but also the deceased can still participate. This idea may sound unusual at first,
but for many it is comforting. The concept is new and needs time to be accepted, because
forms of burial have hardly changed over the centuries. Alternative concepts such as forest
cemeteries have already established themselves, but beyond that there is little innovation
in this area. Demand for places in our Kolumbarium has been high from the start and is
growing steadily as more and more people consider new forms of burial. Many are already
reserving spaces for themselves and their families now to spare their loved ones from ha-
ving to make difficult decisions. Anyone who has visited us immediately senses the special
atmosphere – that is what ultimately convinces people.

038 • AIT 7/8.2025