FORMA STRUTTURALE E INNOVAZIONE COSTRUTTIVA : LE ARCHITETTURE SACRE DI DOMINIKUS BÖHM (1880-1955)

Abstract

This thesis is part of a German architecture research field of the twentieth century led by prof. arch. Vitangelo Ardito within the Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture (DICAR) in Polytechnic of Bari. The research aims to investigate the "New Tradition” architects, who consider the history, the tradition, indispensable to realize new knowledge, for an architect that is the project; Tradition is as a legacy to be transmitted to posterity. During the last years, the choir research has embraced themes that develop into macro areas or macro sectors: among them, the construction of the city and the shape-structure relationship in buildings that were made in it. Specifically, we deepened Theodor Fischer contributions, Paul Bonatz, Paul Schmitthenner, Heinrich Tessenow, Hans Döllgast, Rudolf Schwarz. This doctoral research wants to deepen the sacred architecture of Dominikus Böhm, German architect working in the twentieth century. The analysis focuses on the structural morphology and constructive innovation, on the integration between the materials and the technology used to obtain certain volumes, sometimes “expressionist space”. The study is divided between bibliographic and archival sources and photometric survey of the buildings. At the beginning of the twentieth century in North-West Germany, the Dominikus Böhm’s project experience is characterized by the systematic research for a spatial morphology according to the changing liturgical needs of the Catholic Church. He significantly contributed to the definition of new style and functional standards - then adopted by the Second Vatican Council - through formal and technical innovative solutions: investigating organic-structural systems, geometric-functional relations and materials technological aspects. He developed a common language, shared with other architects like Martin Weber, Rudolf Schwarz and his son Gottfried Böhm. Special harmony of proportions mattered through shapes that allow a uniform redistribution of the load (it requires no buttresses or other support elements). Generally, his buildings reached lightly effective outcomes accommodating all the believers and the officiants without visual obstacles. Consultation is especially significant if the project-building process is considered as a function of an organic and unified architecture, in which each element is subordinate to the whole work and its expressive value, spatial and figurative. The ideas and good practices are analysed in order to produce considerations able to outline a model. This model aims to define a relationship between the geometries that perform the vaulted structures and the used technology. The topic, then, is projected in a wider and current horizon: the relationship between architecture of the past and contemporary design. The research project aims to investigate the sacred architecture from an architectonical point of view, and to infer, from these examples, useful principles to work today on the architectural heritage. The aims of this research project are: – The opportunity to study in deep the theoretical contributions about the idea of “Expressionist space” through the translation of books, essays and articles on this topic; – A study of Dominikus Böhm’s architecture in the years 1920-1960: archive search and direct observation, through metric and photographic surveys: proportional measures, typology adopted, design of the facade, construction of the wall, shape of the roof, relation with the previous building, etc. The tool of redrawing as a cognitive step for the critical interpretation of the architectural solutions; – The opportunity, through a direct exchange of opinion with the teacher-tutor, to acquire a method of analysis of the buildings, and to determine the categories for the comparison between old and new building, and to understand the “German point of view” on the relationship between architectural heritage and contemporary design.