St. Elisabeth’s Parish Hall

Roloff • Ruffing

Annex of the parish hall of the catholic community St. Elisabeth
Hamburg - Harvestehude

completion 2006
gross floor area 360 qm

As a result of drastic reorganisation and cutbacks in the diocese of Hamburg, and in order to maintain the location in Hochallee on a long-term basis, the neighbouring rectory was sold and the premises afforded by it that had been used by the Catholic congregation were combined and concentrated in a new single-storey building.

Although the new building has its own architectural language, it helps to create an urban-style ensemble in combination with the church and the art-nouveau villa of the parish hall. The annex is set apart and intentionally different in design from both church and villa. Its bevelled and buckled exterior surfaces afford its crystalline shape. It lies in the garden like a chunk of rock between church-tower and villa. Its roof forms an outer terrace accessible only from the parish-congregational premises. The access route is situated in the area between the structures. A ramp overcomes the difference in height between street and basement levels.