Autobahnkirche Siegerland or Autobahnkirche an der A 45 is an ecumenical Christian

road church A road church is a roadside church, one of a network of such churches in Denmark ( da, vejkirke), Germany (german: Autobahnkirche, open all year), Estonia ( et, Teeliste kirikud), Finland ( fi, tiekirkko, sv, vägkyrka), Norway ( no, veikirke), ...

at the

Bundesautobahn 45 is an autobahn in Germany, connecting Dortmund in the west with Aschaffenburg in the southwest. It is colloquially known as the ''Sauerlandlinie'' (Sauerland line) as it runs through the hilly, rural Sauerland region between Hagen and Siegen ...

near

Wilnsdorf Wilnsdorf is a municipality in the district of Siegen-Wittgenstein, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Geography The southern municipal limits, with the Kalteiche peak, part of the Rothaargebirge, form not only the community's highest point, at ...

North Rhine-Westphalia North Rhine-Westphalia (german: Nordrhein-Westfalen, ; li, Noordrien-Wesfale ; nds, Noordrhien-Westfalen; ksh, Noodrhing-Wäßßfaale), commonly shortened to NRW (), is a state (''Land'') in Western Germany. With more than 18 million inha ...

, Germany. Opened in 2013, the building has received several architecture awards.

History

The church is one of several German

es which was initiated by private patrons and was financed primarily by donations. The building was erected following a design by from Frankfurt which won a 2009 competition. It was inaugurated on 26 May 2013 and received several architecture awards. The church is dedicated to quiet contemplation by Christians of all denominations and is always open. It is run by the ''Förderverein Autobahnkirche Siegerland'' association. The association organises a Wochenschluss-Andacht on Fridays and occasional cultural events with religious themes, such as sacred music.

Architecture

The exterior is based on simple geometric elements such as triangles, mostly in white. The silhouette alludes to the pictogram for the German road churches. It resembles a piece of folded paper, with an allusion to two towers. The entrance area features a typographic installation by Peter Zizka, quoting from

Psalm 91 Psalm 91 is the 91st psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." In Latin, it is known as 'Qui habitat". As a p ...

:11 (''Er hat seinen Engeln befohlen dich zu behüten auf allen deinen Wegen'' - ''For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways''). The interior, dominated by wood, contrasts with the abstract exterior. An "organic" wooden structure is reminiscent of a tent.''Virtuose Einfachheit. Eine Autobahnkirche im Siegerland''. In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 18 December 2014, international edition, p. 46. A wooden free-standing structure is focused on the altar, enhanced by indirect lighting.

Awards

The building was awarded several architecture prizes, including: * Iconic Awards 2013 * 2013 * Award 2014 * Publikumspreis A + Award: "spektakulärstes religiöses Gebäude 2014"

References

External links

*
Autobahnkirche Siegerland
(in German) architects schneider+schumacher {{DEFAULTSORT:Siegerland Autobahnkirche Road churches Churches completed in 2013 Churches in North Rhine-Westphalia