Jewish Community Center and Synagogue

Basic information

Project Title

Full project title

Jewish Community Center and Synagogue in the UNESCO world heritage site Old Town of Regensburg

Project Description

The project originated from an initiative of Regensburg citizens to replace the synagogue destroyed in 1938 and thus to restore the historic "sacred triangle" of the catholic cathedral, protestant Neupfarrkirche, and synagogue in the UNESCO world heritage site Old Town of Regensburg.
The community center had to reconcile two pairs of contradicting requirements: to be embedded in a historic city context while being distinctly contemporary and to radiate openness while meeting security demands.

Project Region

Berlin, Germany

EU Programme or fund

Description of the project

Summary

The addition including the new synagogue, and the existing community building are linked in the design to form an ensemble that preserves the scale of the historic city center. A small entrance courtyard with an adjacent public library invites people to come closer. The dome of the synagogue on the site’s corner rises and shines above the solid brick façade, bringing it in line with the roofscape of Regensburg's old town. Large windows allow for views of the community hall and the large inner courtyard.
The synagogue’s assembly hall is located on the first and second floors directly above the community hall. Its spatial atmosphere was carefully designed. The design picks up on the juxtaposition of the permanent and the provisional that runs through the architectural history of Judaism, symbolized by the massive temple in Jerusalem and the tabernacle tents of the wandering Jews. The massive masonry construction of the assembly hall is covered on the interior with an east-facing translucent wooden shell, above which the wooden dome appears to be floating. The slats of the interior shell subdue the daylight coming in through the dome, creating a solemn atmosphere.

The listed community center was renovated and carefully adjusted to fit the new requirements. The former entrance of the old building situated in the courtyard was preserved and supplemented by barrier-free access to all levels through the addition.

Key objectives for sustainability

The project is particularly interesting in regard to socio-cultural sustainability. It revitalizes and enriches a place that is historically charged and of great importance to the city and the Jewish community. Furthermore, the existing building is preserved, refurbished, and reused according to its intended purpose.
The decision to expand and incorporate the existing community center in the dense historic city center rather than to build a new and larger one outside of the city greatly reduces the total amount of new construction. This also encourages more informal gatherings, revitalizes the historic center, and generates less traffic.
All major construction materials and structural details are designed to last more than 50 years.

Key objectives for aesthetics and quality

By combining the community center and the synagogue and connecting them to the old building, the ensemble is given a clear and visible address on the site surrounded by narrow streets. The synagogue’s assembly hall was used to mark the corner of the site and to indicate the building’s special purpose.

The new building picks up on the liveliness of the old building and the surrounding roofscape and integrates well into this surrounding, even though the facades of the old and the new building clearly reflect their different periods of origin and history. The new façade and the uncommon use of standing brick give the building a robust surface, its play of light and shadow varying throughout the day. Above it, visible from afar rises the shining, metal-roofed dome of the synagogue.

Large windows open up to the public and guide to two courtyards. The building offers versatile interior and exterior spaces on this small site for the congregational life of the Jewish community to take place. The open entrance courtyard, which houses the artwork "Together" by Tom Kristen interpreting a poem by Rose Friedländer, creates a welcoming gesture. A bright foyer leads directly to the community hall, the synagogue on the upper floor, and the old building.
The design of the synagogue picks up on the juxtaposition of the permanent and the temporary that runs through the architectural history of Judaism, symbolized by the massive temple in Jerusalem and the tabernacle tents of the wandering Jews. An east-facing wooden shell defines the synagogue’s assembly hall, which is spanned by an innovative wooden dome. The tranquility of the room is enhanced by the fact that all technical installations are between the outer wall and the inner shell and thus hidden from view.

Key objectives for inclusion

“A house can invite you to step closer.” (Ilse Danziger, Chairwoman of the Jewish Community Regensburg).

The community center tears down boundaries in various ways. Its location right in the middle of the old town situates the life of the Jewish community as an integral part of everyday urban life. From the street, large windows provide insights into the life of the Jewish community. A forecourt enables spontaneous access to the integrated library that is open to the public. This opportunity to meet and to get to know each other can help reduce cultural barriers.
The building's central location also improves accessibility on foot and by public transportation.
The barrier-free access of the new building is extended to the old building through their connection on all levels.

Results in relation to category

Old towns that are Unesco World Heritage Sites are often in danger of being turned into a museum and losing life. This small project succeeds at reconstructing an important layer of the history of Regensburg’s old town and filling it with new life. Supported by a broad citizenry, Jewish life in the middle of the city becomes visible and tangible again. The contemporary Architecture, fine-tuned to its surroundings, sets new impulses and shows how different time layers can be combined to form a new ensemble in a context that is listed as a historic monument. The 100-year-old old building, which had been erected alongside the destroyed synagogue, was renovated and integrated into this ensemble. This way, it can continue to be used and at the same time bear witness to the site’s varied history.
The inviting gesture of the house has proven itself: Since its opening, the community has been guiding visitors through the building every day to inform them about the house itself and Jewish life in Regensburg in general.

How Citizens benefit

The project was initiated and supported in great part by a sponsoring association of non-Jewish residents, who wanted to build a new synagogue in the exact location of the destroyed one. For 500 €, citizens could purchase a "building stone" to support the project. Many school classes then collected money to support this cause. The two Christian churches also supported the project with donations.
The Jewish citizens, represented by the Jewish community of Regensburg, were closely involved in the planning. The synagogue’s assembly hall, with a men's area and women's amphora, reflects the Orthodox rite, the arrangement of the Torah shrine, bima and seats (of the men) follows the Ashkenazi tradition practiced by this community.
The house is based on the wish of the community to open up to all of Regensburg citizens – according to the principle that encounter leads to the overcoming of social prejudice. Since the center’s opening, there has been a sustained interest in the Jewish community and its building. In the first 10 months, more than 8,000 visitors took the opportunity to visit the community center in guided groups

Innovative character

In order to achieve the desired architectural expression, two new construction types were developed: The floating wooden dome above the synagogue space and the iridescent brick facade.

The wooden dome: The guidance of daylight is of particular importance for the solemn atmosphere of the synagogue’s assembly hall. Under an almost flat dome, the light enters the space from high above and is gradually distributed downwards. To give the dome a special lightness, i.e. to make it appear to float above the gap of light, we supported the dome almost invisibly at the corners behind the translucent, wooden shell. Working with the structural engineer and a timber company, we developed a double-curved, prefabricated dome whose rib-less plywood elements have a finished exposed underside of fine-grained veneer lumber.

The Brick Facade: For the facade of the Jewish Community Center, we wanted to develop a facade that would showcase the significance of the synagogue while being both appealing and durable. We developed an exposed façade of standing brick that ages well and provides a vibrant play of light and shadow. The brickwork had to be granted a special permit. The façade harmonizes in color with the plaster façade of the old building and clearly shows its contemporary origin. It is interrupted by precisely placed wooden windows and in some places connects directly to the old building.