Dezeen Magazine

Oasis Centre of Pastoral Care by X Architekten

Slideshow: stripy monochrome triangles are folded into facets around the walls and ceiling of this church hall in Linz, Austria, to create a cavernous interior.

Oasis Centre of Pastoral Care by X Architekten

Designed by Austrian firm X Architekten, the Oasis pastoral centre is sited in the grounds of a steel manufacturer, where it burrows into a sloping landscape.

Oasis Centre of Pastoral Care by X Architekten

This grassy landscape slopes up over the roof of the centre, while an angled metal pole emerges from the ground to provide a wonky spire near the entrance.

Oasis Centre of Pastoral Care by X Architekten

Beyond the entrance, a two-storey-high atrium splits the building to separate administrative rooms and workshops from the main hall, which incorporates a bar, a chapel and an event space.

Oasis Centre of Pastoral Care by X Architekten

A concealed courtyard occupies a space at the heart of the building and features a solitary, rusty bell that is stationary on the ground.

Oasis Centre of Pastoral Care by X Architekten

Other churches worth a look include one that is see-through and another with steel whirlpools on the roof - see both plus more here.

Oasis Centre of Pastoral Care by X Architekten

Photography is by David Schreyer, apart from where otherwise stated.

The text below is from X Architekten:


Oasis Pastoral care voestalpine

Task

The office for pastoral care in the diocese of Linz, to be located on the site of the steel company voestalpine, is to serve liturgical as well as secular purposes. The plot of land lies as a “no-man’s-land” between main roads and industrial estates and is in need of a new strong character.

Oasis Centre of Pastoral Care by X Architekten

Concept

The study of man and work within the steel company led to a complementary addition to the site through its “built landscape“.

Oasis Centre of Pastoral Care by X Architekten

Existing woodlands serve as a conceptional starting point, an “oasis for the people”, and the new built landscape retains this character by being embedded within a hillside.

Oasis Centre of Pastoral Care by X Architekten

Conventional church buildings would not be able to achieve their independent meaning in this area as the voestalpine’s site is mainly dominated by relatively high buildings.

Oasis Centre of Pastoral Care by X Architekten

Implementation

The building’s main artery, which cuts into the hillside, runs towards the entrances and widens as it approaches the green space, finally leading up to the woods along a sloping surface.

Oasis Centre of Pastoral Care by X Architekten

The embankment, made of dark slag-stone, is either poured into the embankment or processed as pebble dash. The cross, the edge of the wood and meadow as well as the wooden shed are situated up against the edge of the building.

Oasis Centre of Pastoral Care by X Architekten

The planting increases in density starting from the lawn, via a diversity of plants, towards the coniferous forest. Climbing the roof via walkways and stairs, one passes the steel car port as well as the garden associated with the apartment and youth area.

Oasis Centre of Pastoral Care by X Architekten

Above: photograph is by Rupert Asanger

The “built landscape” concept also determines the interior.

Oasis Centre of Pastoral Care by X Architekten

The “ravine” divides the functional areas including offices, meeting room and workshops from the social and religious areas including cloakroom, bar, event room and the chapel.

Oasis Centre of Pastoral Care by X Architekten

The recessed “bell court” radiates a contemplative mood with its squares and its bell placed at ground-level.

Oasis Centre of Pastoral Care by X Architekten

The hollow space under the bell serves to distribute the sound (like the bell in the mining shaft). A wooden and white coated shell divided into triangles unites the chapel, event room and bar as the main rooms of the social area.

Oasis Centre of Pastoral Care by X Architekten

This crystalline geometry creates an important meaning encompassing Saint Barbara as patron saint of both pastoral care and mining.

Oasis Centre of Pastoral Care by X Architekten

Above: photograph is by Rupert Asanger

Two sliding walls enable a choice of separate or connected rooms for different events.

Oasis Centre of Pastoral Care by X Architekten

The open room as a whole inhabits the chapel and bar and thus establishes a unique openness and integration.

Oasis Centre of Pastoral Care by X Architekten

Above: photograph is by Rupert Asanger

Location: Wahringerstraße 30, Linz, Upper Austria Client: Diocese Linz
Start of planning: February 2008 Completion: Summer 2011
Art in construction: Gerhard Brandl

Oasis Centre of Pastoral Care by X Architekten

Premises: 4.843 m2
Built-up area: 840 m2

Oasis Centre of Pastoral Care by X Architekten

Click above for larger image

Oasis Centre of Pastoral Care by X Architekten

Click above for larger image

Oasis Centre of Pastoral Care by X Architekten

Click above for larger image

Oasis Centre of Pastoral Care by X Architekten

Click above for larger image

Oasis Centre of Pastoral Care by X Architekten

Click above for larger image

Oasis Centre of Pastoral Care by X Architekten

Click above for larger image

Oasis Centre of Pastoral Care by X Architekten

Click above for larger image