St. Hildegard in der Au, Catholic church building in Nippes, Germany

St. Hildegard in der Au is a Catholic church building in Nippes with a nearly square floor plan and two parabolic rounded corners positioned at a street intersection. The interior receives light through small square windows in the facade that direct illumination in specific patterns throughout the day.

The parish of St. Hildegard in der Au was founded on 4 August 1959, and the foundation stone was laid on 29 May 1960. The church, designed by Stefan Leuer, was consecrated on 3 December 1961. It was deconsecrated on 20 September 2020 and is slated for demolition to make way for social housing.

The name "in der Au" refers to the allotment gardens on whose former ground the church was built. The Hildegard figure in the niche above the portal, made by Jochem Pechau, holds her symbols, a book and a rose. The wall behind the altar is decorated with tapestries illustrating the motto "Scivias" ("Know the ways") from Hildegard of Bingen.

The building sits at a street intersection in the Nippes district and is easy to locate and reach on foot. Since this is a former church building no longer in active religious use, check beforehand what current access or functions are available.

The 142 small square windows are not evenly spaced: they start with one coloured pane behind the altar and organ loft, then two, three and four stacked, widening downward to the floor at the side corners. The resulting curve echoes the parabolic walls. The bell tower repeats the same openings at its top.