St. Maria in den Benden, Modern church building in Wersten, Germany.
St. Maria in den Benden is a church in Wersten with flat slate roofing and limestone brick walls arranged around a central courtyard containing a glass-walled atrium. The rectangular worship space is illuminated by a west-facing glass wall that provides natural light for religious services throughout the day.
This complex was completed in 1957 and represents a significant example of post-war ecclesiastical architecture, designed by Emil Steffann and Nikolaus Rosiny. The building emerged during a period when many parishes rebuilt their destroyed churches and explored new concepts for shared community spaces.
The parish complex brings together a church, community hall, kindergarten, and parish house around a central courtyard, echoing the spatial organization found in medieval monasteries. Visitors experience a place where religious practice sits alongside everyday community activities.
The central courtyard and worship space are easily recognizable from outside, as the glass wall clearly marks the boundary between interior and exterior. Visitors should check opening times, as this remains an actively used community gathering place.
The apse protrudes from the otherwise uniform exterior and stands as the only architectural element breaking the strict geometric form of the building. This subtle deviation shows how the designers preserved traditional church features while experimenting with modern forms.
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