The repurposing of sacred buildings that are no longer used for liturgical purposes is gaining increasing relevance. Against the backdrop of the World Design Capital and the 'Future Inner City' funding programme, a two-day event was held at the Herz Jesu Church in Kelsterbach, aimed at expert professionals and the general public. The goal was to discuss the multifaceted questions surrounding the preservation and sustainable use of these properties. The event is to be understood as the start of a broader debate in Hesse, particularly after the Hessian State Parliament adopted a joint resolution motion on this topic by the CDU and SPD on 12 June 2026.
Andrej Müller from the Hessian Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy, Transport, Housing and Rural Areas highlighted the significance of this development, as it creates a formal basis for further engagement with the issue. Marion Schmitz-Stadtfeld, Head of Integrated Urban Development at ProjektStadt, emphasised the role of urban development funding, which goes beyond mere financial aid to establish communication structures and networks to comprehensively address the societal task of reimagining church buildings.
Expert Discourse and Citizen Participation
On the first day of the event, a Friday, the so-called 'Long Table of Building Culture' took place. Here, experts gathered for lectures and panel discussions that addressed the architectural, urban planning, and social aspects of church repurposing. The following Saturday was dedicated to a workshop, which enabled citizens from Kelsterbach and the surrounding communities to creatively engage with the premises of the Herz Jesu Church. Participants developed, among other things, potential use scenarios and floor plans for the later adaptation of the church. The open dialogue focused on the opportunities and possibilities arising from the subsequent use of sacred buildings.
A central aspect of the discussion was the role of monument protection. As most churches are listed buildings, the State Office for Monument Preservation was represented on both days by the State Monument Preservation agency. Dr. Verena Jakobi, Head of the Department for Building and Art Monument Preservation at the State Office, underlined the necessity of early involvement of all stakeholders – church, municipality, and monument preservation – to utilise monument protection as a creative opportunity for sustainable cultural development. The lively participation in the workshop, despite high temperatures, demonstrated the significant public interest in shaping the future of these properties.
Alexa von Wedel, Project Manager at ProjektStadt, was particularly impressed by the involvement of church community members. Their spontaneous contributions, including three small organ concerts and the initiation of further plans for church tours and craft afternoons, demonstrated the latent potential inherent in the temporary multifunctional use of such properties. As an ongoing project, a joint art installation entitled 'Kelsterbach Crafts for Peace, Freedom and Democracy' was initiated during the workshop, which will be opened on 12 September by the Hessian Minister of Economic Affairs, Kaweh Mansoori, and marks the starting point of a series of culturally rich events in the Herz Jesu Church.
