New Synagogue, Modern synagogue in Dresden, Germany

The New Synagogue is a modern building with cubic form constructed in 2001 at the site of the destroyed Semper Synagogue. Natural light enters through the roof and entrance area, while golden chain mesh curtains define the windows throughout the structure.

The original Semper Synagogue was built in 1840 and completely destroyed in 1938 during Kristallnacht. The current building replaces its predecessor and stands as a memorial to those losses.

The main worship space is designed as a square, referencing the Temple in Jerusalem and linking past Jewish traditions with present-day practice. Visitors sense this connection when entering the room and taking in how the building is shaped.

The synagogue stands at Hasenberg 1 on the raised old-town bank of the Elbe, between the Brühl's Terrace fortifications and the southern end of the Carolabrücke. The complex is split in two: the cube of the synagogue faces the lower, three-storey community centre across a stone plaza, whose glass front opens onto the courtyard. The sanctuary has no side windows, so light arrives only through the roof and the entrance area.

A Star of David rescued by firefighters during the 1938 destruction is displayed at the main entrance today. This object tells a story of survival amid tremendous loss.