Dominic Bohm
Encyclopedia
Dominikus Böhm was a modernist German
architect and church builder.
area of Germany, the youngest of six children. He studied at the Baugewerkenschule in Augsburg
(now the University of Augsburg
) from 1903 to 1906 and studied architecture at the Technical University of Stuttgart
under Theodor Fischer
. Then he opened his own architectural practice.
He first taught at the Rheinische Technicum in Bingen
, and finally from 1908 to 1926 at what is now the College of Design in Offenbach, with the architect Rudolf Schwarz
in a joint workshop. In 1926 he was recruited by Richard Riemerschmid
to work as a professor of church architecture and architecture at the Cologne schools and he remained there until his dismissal by the Nazis in 1934. After the war he continued to teach at the Cologne plant schools until 1953.
.
Böhm also considered liturgical questions which may have indirectly influenced the doctrine of the Second Vatican Council
. His special merit was his belief in the participation of the community in worship, using the structure of early church buildings as a model. His churches are characterised by simple monumentality and especially by the new emphasis on the altar area as central.
Stained glass was one of his passions. So he designed the stained glass windows, built for Holy Ghost Church in Brunswick-Lehndorf in 1952. He also served as a musician and composer, and composed numerous songs and sacred music. The postmodern architect Heinz Bienefeld began his career as an assistant of his.
Part of his legacy is preserved at the German Architecture Museum
in Frankfurt, while another part was located in the Historical Archive of the City of Cologne but was probably lost in the collapse of the archive building on 3 March 2009.
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
architect and church builder.
Life
Böhm was born into a family of builders from the Swabian-BavarianSwabian
Swabian may refer:* to the German region of Swabia ; or* to Swabian German, a dialect spoken in Baden-Württemberg in south-west Germany and adjoining areas See also:...
area of Germany, the youngest of six children. He studied at the Baugewerkenschule in Augsburg
Augsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
(now the University of Augsburg
University of Augsburg
The University of Augsburg is a university located in the Universitätsviertel section of Augsburg, Germany. It was founded in 1970 and is organized in 7 Faculties....
) from 1903 to 1906 and studied architecture at the Technical University of Stuttgart
University of Stuttgart
The University of Stuttgart is a university located in Stuttgart, Germany. It was founded in 1829 and is organized in 10 faculties....
under Theodor Fischer
Theodor Fischer
Theodor Fischer was a German architect and teacher.Fischer planned public housing projects for the city of Munich beginning in 1893. He was the joint founder and first chairman of the Deutscher Werkbund , as well as member of the German version of the Garden city movement...
. Then he opened his own architectural practice.
He first taught at the Rheinische Technicum in Bingen
Bingen am Rhein
Bingen am Rhein is a town in the Mainz-Bingen district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.The settlement’s original name was Bingium, a Celtic word that may have meant “hole in the rock”, a description of the shoal behind the Mäuseturm, known as the Binger Loch. Bingen was the starting point for the...
, and finally from 1908 to 1926 at what is now the College of Design in Offenbach, with the architect Rudolf Schwarz
Rudolf Schwarz (architect)
Rudolf Schwarz was a German architect known for his work on Kirche St. Fronleichnam, Aachen. He also played a decisive role in the reconstruction of Cologne after the Second World War. After conducting Cologne's reconstruction authority between 1947 and 1952 he contributed to the rebuilding of the...
in a joint workshop. In 1926 he was recruited by Richard Riemerschmid
Richard Riemerschmid
Richard Riemerschmid was a German architect, painter, designer and city planner from Munich. He was a major figure in Jugendstil, the German form of Art Nouveau, and a founder of architecture in the style...
to work as a professor of church architecture and architecture at the Cologne schools and he remained there until his dismissal by the Nazis in 1934. After the war he continued to teach at the Cologne plant schools until 1953.
Work
Böhm took advantage of modern building materials and techniques. By reducing the form of the church to its essential shape, the lighting of the altar and the sophisticated design of the altar, he created a new tradition of modern church architecture. In particular, he used light as a building material, and as part of the liturgyLiturgy
Liturgy is either the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions or a more precise term that distinguishes between those religious groups who believe their ritual requires the "people" to do the "work" of responding to the priest, and those...
.
Böhm also considered liturgical questions which may have indirectly influenced the doctrine of the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
. His special merit was his belief in the participation of the community in worship, using the structure of early church buildings as a model. His churches are characterised by simple monumentality and especially by the new emphasis on the altar area as central.
Stained glass was one of his passions. So he designed the stained glass windows, built for Holy Ghost Church in Brunswick-Lehndorf in 1952. He also served as a musician and composer, and composed numerous songs and sacred music. The postmodern architect Heinz Bienefeld began his career as an assistant of his.
Part of his legacy is preserved at the German Architecture Museum
German Architecture Museum
The German Architecture Museum is located on the Museumsufer in Frankfurt, Germany. Housed in an 18th-century building, the interior has been re-designed by Oswald Mathias Ungers in 1984 as a set of "elemental Platonic buildings within elemental Platonic buildings".The museum organises several...
in Frankfurt, while another part was located in the Historical Archive of the City of Cologne but was probably lost in the collapse of the archive building on 3 March 2009.