Kirche Johannes XXIII., Brutalist church in Sülz, Germany
Church of John XXIII is a concrete religious building in Sülz with an unusual interior structure. A large concrete trunk with spreading branches runs through the space and supports the roof, while thick walls create a stark appearance.
The building came into being in the 1960s through the collaboration of architect Hans Buchmann, sculptor Josef Rikus, and theologian Wilhelm Nyssen. The church was consecrated in 1968 and reflects the search for new forms of expression in postwar church architecture.
The church serves the Catholic student community of Cologne and shows modern architectural thinking through raw concrete and simple forms. Visitors experience the space as a place for reflection, where the unadorned design encourages inner peace.
The church is near the subway network and open to visitors daily until dusk. Photography is welcome, and the concrete layout makes it easy to find your way inside.
The central concrete trunk hides the tabernacle inside its structure, a hidden sacred element within the raw concrete. This combination of technical innovation and spiritual purpose makes the interior a surprising discovery.
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