St. Sebastian Kindergarten Renovation / Bolles + Wilson

The St. Sebastian church built in 1962 and deconsecrated in 2008 has been renovated by Architect duo Bolles + Wilson The elegant form of the elliptical nave now host a kindergarten framed and shielded by site perimeter housing (2nd construction phase).

St. Sebastian Kindergarten Renovation technical Information

Architect: Bolles + Wilson | Works of Bolles + Wilson
Location: Germany
Project Year : 2013
Typology : Educational / Kindergarten
Project architects: Anne Elshof, Christoph Lammers, Christoph Macholz
Construction supervision: Klaus Kuchenbuch
Structure : Ahw Ingenieure GmbH, Münster
Photographs : © Markus Hauschild, Photo existing © S. Ahlbrand-Dornseif + R.Wakonigg

The St. Sebastian church built in 1962 and deconsecrated in 2008 has been revitalized with the most lively and positive function, i.e. with children.

– Bolles + Wilson’s

St. Sebastian Kindergarten Renovation Photographs

A church becomes a kindergarten. Article by Bolles + Wilson

Not heritage listed, already condemned, the St. Sebastian church built in 1962 and deconsecrated in 2008 has been revitalized with the most lively and positive function, i.e. with children.

The elegant elliptical form of the nave physically anchors its surrounding neighborhood. Two levels of kindergarten group rooms are housed within, the roofs of these become an all-weather play deck. Grass green impact-protection flooring and street lights give the play decks the ambience of an outdoor space.

A grid of 50 x 50 cm unglazed openings, the only originally glazed light source in the church, provide constant, natural ventilation. Cold in winter, comfortably temperate in summer, but always dry, this magical inside/outside space is flooded with light.

Adjacent to the kindergarten nave, a new street facing extension houses the main entrance, kitchen, offices, technical rooms and one multipurpose room. This is available for neighborhood events.