Modernity and Christcentrism. The church architecture of Hans Herkommer in the 1920s and 1930s

Alongside Dominikus Böhm, Martin Weber, and Rudolf Schwarz, Hans Herkommer (1887-1956) ranks among the most important Catholic church architects in Germany during the 1920s and 1930s. His modern church buildings attracted considerable attention at the time. In particular, his so-called longitudinal truss principle gained widespread recognition and was subsequently adopted in numerous church construction projects.

This lecture presents Herkommer’s work against the backdrop of liturgical developments following the First World War. A key concept is Christocentrism, which articulated contemporary expectations of modern church architecture. Herkommer deliberately employed modern materials and construction methods, integrating them—through engagement with the congregation—into a coherent theological concept.

At the same time, his unconventional designs were met with criticism, as they broke with traditional notions of church architecture. The lecture therefore also examines the contemporary reception of his buildings, particularly in the context of the National Socialists’ rise to power in 1933.