Project Planning
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The outer form of the rebuilt Garrison Church will relate to the historic building while its interior will meet modern and future-oriented standards of utilisation. The first stage of construction entails the reconstruction of the spire. The renowned architects of Hilmer & Sattler und Albrecht presented a concept with a spacious and functional room at the centre. It is meant to serve as a chapel and a place of commemoration.
The existence of comprehensive historical sources allows for the reconstruction of the Garrison Church’s original architecture, carried out with historical construction techniques and by use of authentic material (i.e. bricks and mortar). That way, Philip Gerlach’s magnum opus of Prussian baroque may be reconstructed in all its innate beauty.
Site inspections have shown that the remains of the original base are no longer sustainable. Therefore a new base plate will be laid above the remains of the old one, preserving the initial groundwork. A deep foundation consisting of 38 drilled piles will be installed, with each pile reaching a length of 37 metres. 14 of these will be activated with geothermal energy via special sensors. This will lead to considerable reductions of both carbon dioxide emissions and consumption of primary energy.
Planning for the interior layout and setting happens in consideration of the rooms' future purpose of utilization. The technical and spatial configuration conforms to today’s requirements and specifications. All levels are handicapped accessible via an elevator.
It even reaches the observation deck at 60 metres high. There, visitors are offered an exceptional panorama of the city. Above the observation deck and beneath the roof a carillon will be installed, whose melodies will be heard all over Potsdam. Estimated costs for the first stage of construction (spire) are at 38 million Euros.
From 2011 to 2014, the planning process has been funded by the federal state of Brandenburg and the Federal Commissioner for Culture and Media (Bundesbeauftragte für Kultur und Medien).
The exterior construction of the tower, as part of the first stage of construction, conforms entirely to the historical records of the church. After the outline planning, a room programme is intended, which corresponds to the building’s multi-purpose as a church, a place for remembrance and a centre of education.
Remembrance
The rooms marked in red are intended to serve as an exhibition space of about 300 square metres, where essential historical themes shall be picked up and presented. This will invite the visitors to deepen their engagement with the history of this place.
Learning
The story below the exhibition space (marked in yellow) will host two seminar rooms in which the content of the exhibition as well as other points of discussion can be examined further. An emphasis will lie on the education of young people in a European context. The educational focus will be supported by a particular library.
Living
An elevator as well as a spiral staircase connect the lower stories with the observation deck (marked in light blue). The carillon is located above the deck. At ground-floor level, there will be the entrance and shop to the right, as well as a coffee shop on the opposite side (marked in blue).
Clerical Life
The new chapel will serve as a place to remind us of our Christian responsibility for a peaceful community. This oratory (marked in green) will be complemented by adjoining rooms such as a sacristy and two offices for the pastors.
The outer architecture of the spire will be largely historically accurate in reference to its shape of 1730/35, including the weather vane, which already found a temporary home in front of the Cross of Nails chapel.
While the outer architecture will be largely historically accurate, the spire’s interior will be made up of an entirely new layout. 1,200 square metres will offer space for remembrance, learning and living: It will include seminar rooms, exhibition space and a chapel. An elevator will enable handicapped access to the observation deck at 60 metres above ground.
The pinnacle will once again be home to a carillon.
The swinging peal of bells will consist of four large bells. Currently, there are two different alternatives for the disposition of sound. Both versions blend in well into Potsdam’s existing ‘sound-scenery’ of bells.
Today, the Garrison Church’s preserved field altar is already at the Cross of Nails chapel, where it is used for service. The detailed setting of the new chapel inside the spire has yet to be decided.
The plan is to regain as much of the Garrison Church’s historic surroundings as possible. A large Cross of Nails will be installed in front of the entrance to the spire. The retrieval of the historical centre is also one the restoration goals of the City of Potsdam.