Church of Seliger Pater Rupert Mayer

Meck Architekten, Germany

The Church of Seliger Pater Rupert Mayer is situated in Poing near Munich. With its sculptural structure and shimmering white crown, it forms a link between a large green space and the new municipal center, taking up the different relationships between landscape and town.

Conceived as an imposing solitaire, the church unfolds sculptural power with its sophisticated roof landscape. Through its form and height, it dominates the urban context and becomes an identifiable landmark for Poing. A white roof sculpture has been set atop the story‑high base of nagelfluh, a highly sustainable conglomerate rock from the upper local Bavarian gravel plain. This roof is divided into four parts and borne by a steel construction.

A homogeneous raiment of molded ceramic tiles gives the roof a crystalline appearance. The various surface angles of the glazed tiles were inspired by the shape of the roof and work to create diverse refractive effects as the light changes.

Inside, the division of base and roof continues; the lower wall areas and floor are clad with visible, large-format blocks of nagelfluh. Above, the abstract white roof sculpture rises like a space of light reaching for the sky. From the forecourt, visitors pass beneath the raised area to enter the church, which features sleek wooden pews arranged in blocks around the liturgical center of the altar area.

Originally appeared in Modus News 9