St. Joseph’s Parish Church

The redesign of the parish church in Essling sets a new tone in an old location. It speaks the language of the Second Vatican Council and aims to symbolize the new spirit in the church; a bright space for communal worship. The existing tower is visually raised by the reduced height of the weekday chapel. This gives the building greater dominance over the square. The demolition of the canopy widens the spatially confined entrance area. Seating on the northern forecourt and to the south of the playground provides an opportunity for meetings and communication.

The orientation inside is maintained. The altar area is centered by a ribbon-like skylight that corresponds to the indirect light from the wall panels behind the altar. This sloping wall panel connects the main room and the chapel and defines specific lighting situations. Generous sliding doors allow the church interior and chapel to be connected to form a single space. The priest can enter the church interior through the congregation. The square altar is positioned in the center of the room and, like the ambo, faces the main nave and the chapel. The baptismal font is located at the transition to the chapel and is thus centrally integrated, lying, as it were, on the way to the celebration of the Word and the Eucharist.