St. Martin Zürich, Modern church in Fluntern, Switzerland

St. Martin Zürich is a modern church building in the Fluntern neighborhood designed with large glass surfaces, concrete elements, and clean lines that create an open, light-filled interior. The space is structured to feel welcoming and functional, allowing natural light to play a central role in the worship area.

A medieval St. Martin monastery on the Zürichberg, founded by Augustinian canons in 1127 and dissolved in the Reformation, was revived in name when the Catholic parish of Fluntern built this church. The Liebfrauen parish sought a site from 1920 for Catholic domestic staff in the Zürichberg villas; the building association bought the Krähbühlstrasse plot on 27 April 1933. Anton Higi, assisted by Walter Rieger, built the church in 1938–39; Bishop Laurenz Matthias Vincenz consecrated it on 4 June 1939 and made it an independent parish on 1 November 1940.

The church functions as a gathering place for worship and musical events that draw people from the surrounding neighborhood. It shapes community life by offering space for both religious services and cultural performances throughout the year.

The church stands at Krähbühlstrasse 50, set back from the street near the Zoo Zürich, and has no tower, so look for the low central building and the roof turret over the choir. Since 2013 the forecourt has been rebuilt step-free and a free-standing lift connects to the parish rooms in the lower floor. The relief of St. Martin is above the main entrance.

The church deliberately has no bell tower, built so out of consideration for the surrounding Protestant neighbourhood, as stated in its founding document. Instead, a small roof turret sits on the choir roof, out of sight from the street; it was raised in 1995 and given a third, larger bell alongside the two from 1939.