Herz-Jesu Residential
The Catholic Parish Church of St. Peter in Mönchengladbach, Germany, underwent a transformation into publicly funded apartments. Designed by Josef Kleesattel, the neogothic church retained its monumental character while accommodating a socially diverse community with affordable rents.
About this building
The former St. Peter's Catholic Parish Church in Mönchengladbach, Germany, originally built in 1902 and designed by architect Josef Kleesattel, has been successfully transformed into publicly funded apartments. The neogothic brick church, featuring a basilica layout with a three-aisled nave, transept, and choir, stands as a prominent landmark despite the absence of a tower. The building's dimensions, including its height, lack of a tower, large plot of land, and status as a protected monument, made it suitable for private redevelopment.
The church was sold separately from the surrounding property, which included a kindergarten, community center, and residential building that were demolished and reconstructed. The new residential units, comprising 23 subsidized, barrier-free apartments, were constructed as a house-within-a-house structure, detached from the original fabric of the church. The project successfully preserved the monumental qualities of the church while integrating modern living spaces, and it achieved a socially diverse community with affordable rents and retained communal and charitable services on-site. The conversion exemplifies the challenges and achievements associated with repurposing large church buildings for residential use.
