Kerkenlandschap Brabant

A short film commissioned by the Urban Labs TU Eindhoven to highlight their research into the future role of churches and religious heritage buildings in North Brabant.

This research project addresses the issue of changing patterns in religious attendance. Declining attendance at churches is a widespread phenomenon across the Netherlands, and presents particularly significant challenges for rural communities whose communal life is tightly connected to the church buildings and their public spaces. Affording regular maintenance and heating can prove a major challenge for parishes, especially if the building is historic; at the same time, these buildings have a great potential to contribute to the life of the wider community. Within the Urban Lab students work directly with parishioners and religious orders to develop architectural strategies for addressing these challenges. Students begin by undertaking detailed research of the wider landscape and urban context, also studying the history and significance of the building. They then work with stakeholders to develop an appropriate strategy for expanding the function of the building, before developing detailed architectural proposals which provide a meaningful future for the building. Throughout this process the need for the building to remain a place of worship is emphasised, together with a respect for the spatial qualities which support peaceful prayer.