Betsaal der Brüdergemeine, Building in the Neukölln district of Berlin
The Betsaal der Brüdergemeine is a modern church building made of concrete in Berlin's Neukölln district. The complex features multiple connected wings with a steel frame, large glass walls for natural light, and simple linear forms without unnecessary ornamentation.
The community was founded in the early 1700s in Herrnhut and moved to Berlin in the mid-1700s to escape conflicts. The original prayer hall was destroyed during World War II, and the current building was constructed in 1962 as part of post-war reconstruction.
The prayer hall bears the name of the faith community that gathers here. Its interior follows their tradition without a cross or altar, featuring plain wooden benches and white walls that emphasize community over decoration.
The entrance on Kirchgasse 14–17 is set back from the street behind a lawn, reached by three low dark steps up to a white double door between concrete fins. The prayer hall lies parallel to the street, with the parish and community wings to either side, linked by glazed pergolas. The hall is glazed above eye level, so daylight enters from the sides.
The building houses a large bronze bell inscribed in Czech, recalling the community's historic ties to Bohemian settlers. This bell is a rare symbol of how faith and migration intertwined in Berlin's past.
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