Urtenen Church
The Urtenen Church is a Reformed Church in Urtenen BE. With its idiosyncratic, striking and modern architecture, it dominates the image of the village. It was built in the years 1966–1968 on the Leehügel in Leccabeton , the building material of the time, and inaugurated on June 30, 1968.
Building history
Already in 1950 the Urtener got their own cemetery, but until the church was built they had to go to Jegenstorf to preach . However, a first church project in the style of a Heimatstil country church was rejected in 1953. In 1961, the parish council of the rapidly growing Urtenen-Schönbühl parish decided to build its own church. As part of the "overall development plan Lee", the planning was carried out by the parish council president Dr. E. Wehren and the President of the Building Commission, HR Bütikofer, in collaboration with the architect Edwin Rausser and the builder F. Friedli. The project was on 13./14. March 1965 submitted to the electorate and accepted with over 90% approval.
Data
- 1964 planning by architect Edwin Rausser , Bern (1925–2016)
- October 18, 1965: Groundbreaking ceremony
- July 10, 1966: Foundation stone laid
- June 24, 1967: Bell lift
- June 30, 1968: Inauguration service
architecture
The basic shape of the Urtenen church is a parabola pointing to infinity , the starting point of which is the low pulpit. It opens in a constantly widening arc to the high north window - a symbol of how God's word should find its way out into the world. On the foundation stone next to the pulpit is the year 1966, the cross with the alpha and omega and the inscription: " No one can lay any other foundation than that which is laid, Jesus Christ ." ( 1 Corinthians 3:11 LUT )
The nave and choir form a unit, the center of which is the Lord's Supper table and the chandelier. The walls were poured with expanded clay as an aggregate mixed concrete for better insulation. The formwork with rough-sawn boards in various dimensions was deliberately used as a design element. As with most other components, the rules of the golden ratio were followed.
During the renovation and redesign by the Bern architects Patrick Thurston in 2012, design fir wood platforms were installed in the choir room. A new Lord's Supper table on 38 legs, with an integrated baptismal font and lectern, replaces the old table. The new equipment allows versatile use as a concert room.
The glass concrete window, designed by Max Brunner , was added in 1986 and bears the title "Resurrection". Crown of thorns and sun, dark and light, appear in it as forming opposites.
There are meeting rooms and classrooms in the basement. The walls of the air raid shelter under the choir were built as a cross, so that the cross would remain in place even if the church were completely destroyed. A pipe with the plans of the church is walled into this cross. At the height of the Cold War , the construction of a shelter for the population and cultural assets was an important duty.
organ
On the gallery is the organ built by the Ziegler company, Uetikon, with 28 registers and 1,600 pipes. It was also renovated in 2012.
tower
The tower rests on four pillars to the right above the church, is mostly square and ends in pointed battlements in the upper part, which are raised by a stylized cock.
In the bell room, with precisely calculated sound openings, there are five bells that were cast in 1966 by the Rüetschi company, Aarau. The bells are tuned in the tones C, Db, F, G and B and provided with Bible verses.
The watch was supplied by the Baer Sumiswald company.
Surroundings
In front of the church, rainwater collects in a round fountain, a gift from the builder and a quote from the Notre-Dame-du-Haut de Ronchamp chapel by the exemplary Le Corbusier . The fountain points to the eternal life-giving source Jesus Christ ( John 4:14 NCC ). The funeral rooms are attached to the church.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Edwin Rausser. In: arch INFORM .
- ^ Remodeling from Thurston Architects' website, accessed June 1, 2019
Coordinates: 47 ° 1 '32.5 " N , 7 ° 29' 59.7" E ; CH1903: 604658 / 208297