St. Mauritius, Brutalist church building in Saarbrücken, Germany
St. Mauritius is a brutalist church with a hexagonal floor plan where concrete pillars branch into the roof, creating an abstract interpretation of ribbed vaulting. A 37-meter concrete tower on the western side holds four large portals that provide access to the main worship space.
Construction began in 1953 under architects Albert Dietz and Bernhard Grothe, responding to the growth of the Catholic population after World War II. The building reflects the modern architectural thinking of its era and shaped the city's postwar identity.
The church served as a spiritual center for the Bellevue neighborhood until 2003, marking a turning point as Saarbrücken's first deconsecrated church. Today, the space tells the story of how religious life in this region has transformed.
Access is gained through the western side of the tower, which leads to the four main portals. Keep in mind that interior spaces are cool and natural light is limited due to the few windows on the outer walls.
The building features specially designed windows by Karl-Heinz Grünewald on the north side and abstract stained glass on the south side. These windows are far more than decoration, fundamentally shaping how light moves through the interior and bringing the architectural vision to life.
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