Stone pillars enclose Open Chapel in Germany by Christoph Hesse Architects

[Celerity]

https://www.dezeen.com/2025/03/02/open-chapel-christoph-hesse-architects/





Twelve sandstone pillars arranged in a mandorla shape enclose this "sheltering yet open" chapel in Hesse, Germany, by Christopher Hesse Architects. Called Open Chapel, the structure is one of nine created by the studio as part of an initiative called Open Mind Places, which is aiming to engage rural communities in the creation of scenic spaces for gathering and reflection using local materials.







Berlin-based Christopher Hesse Architects worked with residents of the nearby village to create the chapel, which takes the form of a mandorla – an almond-shaped frame that is often used in religious art to surround a figure. It has several narrow gaps in its form to allow the elements to "flow through" its centre.







"Designed as a space for connection and communal experience, the chapel is framed by twelve columns that together form a sheltering yet open shape, reminiscent of two protective hands," founder Christopher Hesse told Dezeen. "The gaps between the columns, as well as those between the columns and the roof, create a sense of permeability, allowing natural elements – wind, sunlight, scent, and sound – to flow through," he added. "This openness invites visitors of all backgrounds, regardless of faith or belief, fostering reflection, care, and a sense of community."









The twelve pillars that surround Open Chapel are made of a total of 3,960 sandstone blocks, laid in a U-shape to create hollow niches on the interior for folding wooden benches. Other niches higher up in the pillars, which are left empty, are intended as "spaces of remembrance", dedicated to the ancestors of the village's residents.

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[bronxiteforever]

1. Beautiful and peaceful