
'ulm synagogue' by kister scheithauer gross architekten, ulm, germany
image © christian richters
all images courtesy of kister scheithauer gross architekten
taking first place in the competition to design the new 'ulm synagogue' for the orthodox community of weinhof, cologne-nased practice kister
scheithauer gross architekten recently handed the project over to the public after 20 months of construction. located in a historically sensitive site,
just a few meters from the original temple which was destroyed during kristallnacht of 1938, the simple and powerful cube sits 24 meters wide,
16 meters deep and 12 meters high and includes not only a place of worship but also a community center. the new structure contains a foyer, synagogue,
mikvah, meeting hall, school, administrative rooms, child day care center and an enclosed outdoor playing area located above the sacral chamber,
all organized orthogonally except for the synagogue itself, which is arranged in a diagonal axis facing the southeast corner of the building, facing jerusalem.
that same corner of the house created an opportunity for a unique illumination, using a high-pressure water jet to perforate 600 holes into the block
playing with the tessellated pattern of the start of david, illuminating the interior torah shrine.

main synagogue space
image © christian richters

interior of the shrine, illuminated by the star of david perforations in the wall
image © christian richters

view towards the historical sites
image © christian richters

image © christian richters

perforated wall faces jerusalem
image © christian richters

glowing fenestration at night
image © christian richters

image © christian richters

site plan
project info:
structural analysis: dr.-ing. w.naumann & partner, köln
thermo gravimetric analysis: zwp ag, köln
acoustics: isrw dr.-ing. klapdor gmbh, düsseldorf
building physics: ing.-büro für bauphysik heinrichs, köln
fire safety: bft cognos, aachen
competition: 11/2009
performance time: 2010-2012
start of construction: 03/2011
completion: 12/2012
gross floor space: 1.980 m²
performance phases: 1 – 4 plus artistic direction and master details
construction costs: 4.6 million euros
the lattice window is a very clever device
it reminds me of Nouvel’s Institut du Monde Arabe (how’s that for irony?)
Another synagogue groping for symbolism, humility and relevance.
OH, look, it is another box..
TENÍA MUCHO TIEMPO QUE NO SENTÍA ALGO ESPECIAL, POR UN EDIFICIO COMO LO ES ESTE (SINAGOGA) LA SIMPLICIDAD, LA PUREZA Y EL DETALLE CON LA QUE ESTÁN TRABAJADAS ES SOBERBIO, COMO EL ARQUITECTO, SUPO LLEVAR UN TODO A ALGO TAN PARTICULAR COMO LO ES ESTA SINAGOGA, MENOS ES MÁS, TENÍA TODA LA RAZÓN EL ARQUITECTO LUDWIG MIES VAN DER ROHE, DEFINITIVAMENTE EL ARQUITECTO SE CONVIRTIÓ EN UN ARTISTA DE LA ABSTRACCIÓN… MIS FELICITACIONES… SIMPLE Y LLANAMENTE SOBERBIO… GRACIAS A DESIGNBOOM POR COMPARTIRME A TODOS ESTOS ARTISTAS QUE YO COMO ARQUITECTO ME HA SERVIDO ENORMEMENTE PARA ABRIR MÁS MI MENTE…