“Ethics and aesthetics are one and the same”, Ludwig Wittgenstein

Dojo

Originally, ‘dojo’ referred to the meditation halls in Zen monasteries. Over time, the term came to be used also for places where martial arts were practised – arts that drew on Zen principles and whose names end in ‘do’, such as kendo, karate-do, judo or aikido.

Do, 道: Way | Jo, 場: Place

Aikido Church Dojo

Our dojo – formerly the Protestant Holy Trinity Church – is situated in the heart of Cologne-Ossendorf. It is a post-war building that has shaped the townscape for decades. Thanks to the change of use, the church was saved from demolition.

Dojo conversion: Based on designs by the renowned architect of sacred buildings, Prof. Paul Böhm.

History: A simple hall church

Built in 1961–63. An east-facing, single-nave church with a gallery for the organ and choir. A reinforced concrete frame structure, clad with white sand-lime bricks. There is a large frosted-glass window at both the east and west ends. A hall church whose simplicity is hard to beat. Architect: Georg Rasch.

Over the years, oak parquet flooring and a wooden ceiling were added. The frosted-glass windows were replaced with colourful leaded-glass windows. On 24 March 2019, the Church of the Holy Trinity was deconsecrated.

Symbol

The hall church is regarded as the original form of Christian sacred architecture. Like the ideal of a dojo, it symbolises modesty and a sense of community amongst people. It stands for tranquillity and peacefulness.

Respect ...

… in honour of the people who were deeply connected to this church. And it was out of respect for the spiritual task of transforming a Western religious building into an Eastern space for meditative practice that I decided to approach Prof. Paul Böhm. I asked him and commissioned him to undertake the architectural and artistic redesign.

FROM THE INSIDE OUT

Transformation

With great care and sensitivity, the church has been transformed into a dignified aikido dojo. The predominant use of fragrant wood and breathable lime plaster creates an indoor atmosphere that reminds me of Japanese monasteries.

Everything feels natural, minimalist and striking.

For us practitioners

The dojo offers a sense of grounding and tranquillity. It awakens the senses. It leads into meditation. It invites us to gather our thoughts and set out on the path to the very heart of Aikido.

Emptiness and Fulfilment

Ethics needs space: the dojo is essentially a large empty room that feels open, expansive and – in this case, upwards too – creating ample space for physical and mental exercise.

Emptiness is a luxury – especially in our busy everyday lives, so full of things and issues.

Light and Emptiness

The emptiness in the church dojo lends the light an almost mystical power. The narrow louvre windows, which were fitted alongside the stained-glass panes in accordance with Paul Böhm’s plans, provide plenty of additional daylight. The church windows appear less dominant and their light softer. The emptiness in the space allows the gentle, colourful light to flow unhindered and mysteriously across the walls or the mat – especially at sunrise and sunset.

Nature and Air

The high-set louvred windows bring the outdoors into the dojo. They offer views of the trees and the sky.

What’s more, they provide excellent ventilation.

Zen aesthetics

From the training hall to the showers: clearly defined spaces and pathways with a minimum of furnishings. Everything is consistently clear, simple and natural in design. Even the technical equipment is kept to a minimum. Yet it is robust and state-of-the-art.

It doesn’t take much to practise Aikido. Yet the little that is needed is maintained with love and dedication. Focusing on the essence of a dojo for a peaceful martial art required careful planning and execution. Every element is significant. Even what is invisible is there.

Wabi-Sabi

A Japanese ideal of beauty: simplicity with a patina. It is not just the building that has a history. Many items from my two previous dojos have found a new home here. Among them is the wooden frame that holds the mats together. Or the small antique shelf for the practitioners’ valuables. Or the coat hooks in the changing rooms. All of these have been part of the training since the very first session in February 1985. Four decades of constant use have left their mark. Simple things that continue to age with dignity here.

In harmony

The changing process, centred around the training, can become a ritual in itself.

It is the emptiness, but also the details, that contribute to the spirit of the dojo. Taken as a whole, this makes my appreciation for Japan’s Zen traditions and for our training visible, tangible and palpable.

For the environment

The decision to preserve and refurbish the building rather than demolish it has already had a positive impact on the climate. Furthermore, thanks to Dipl.-Ing. Holger Reif and the firm Theod. Mahr, it has been possible to heat the former church in an environmentally friendly and affordable (!) way.

• The roof has been insulated to a very high standard – which also provides protection against the heat in summer.
• Numerous windows were replaced.
• A clean slate: the old, dilapidated and energy-guzzling heating system was carefully dismantled. The same went for a huge, forgotten oil tank in a deep cellar.

Perfect synergy

• Two state-of-the-art biomass heating systems with excellent particulate filters and very low energy consumption,
• combined with a solar thermal system and
• two large energy buffer tanks (water).

A coordinated system with an excellent environmental footprint: the clean combustion of pellets* + the power of the sun + water’s ability to store heat!

* Pellets: small, cylindrical shapes made from wood waste such as sawdust and wood shavings, which are produced during wood processing. Short transport distances and the manufacturing process conserve resources. Heating with pellets is considered climate-neutral.

The challenge of the practice room

The most demanding heating challenge: the practice room, formerly a place of worship. High ceilings, large leaded windows. Absolutely stunning, but keeping this room warm in winter in an energy-efficient way, treating the many delicate Swiss stone pine timbers with care and, at the same time, not disrupting the aesthetics of the open space was a feat in itself. The solution:

• The expertise of an experienced church heating specialist. They installed three heating units in the floor, positioned right next to the mat with millimetre precision. These units use hot water to generate warm air. A quiet, cleverly programmed air circulation system with fine dust and pollen filters.

View from the outside

The two most striking external changes to the building:

• The raising (+33 cm) and re-roofing of the roof. The tiles are angular and red.
• The façade, which has been extensively refurbished, rendered and painted in a soft eggshell shade, partly featuring a grass verge (splash guard) made of Corten steel.

Further alterations: the gables, now harmonised with the façade; four louvre windows, each with eight movable panes; 16 further new windows, 15 of which have wooden frames; anti-glare protective glazing in front of the Resurrection window; and refurbished protective glazing in front of the Trinity window.

The old church portal now serves exclusively as an emergency exit. The doors were carefully sanded down, technically upgraded, thermally insulated and fitted with frosted glass panes.

New entrance

The entrance to the dojo on the right – where a side entrance used to be – consists of a heavy wooden door designed by Prof. Böhm, with a protective canopy. Wood: Siberian larch. Handle: Swiss stone pine. Canopy: galvanised steel.

Restoration of the church square

A massive, dilapidated arbour has been dismantled; the steps leading up to the church tower have been removed and fenced off; a thick concrete slab covering 239 m² has been cleared away and replaced with 125 tonnes of top-quality topsoil; a wildflower meadow now grows here.

Silence – Practice – Nature

Surrounded by ancient trees, the dojo is nestled within a simple, green garden. Here, one senses a touch of Zen – without any traditional gravel, stone lanterns or rocks … Plenty of open space, plenty of greenery and a few subtle touches.

Monastic access

A flight of steps dating from the 1960s leads directly onto the property. Fifty young copper beeches form a double row of hedges, eleven metres long and one and a half metres high. The hedge creates a pleasant, clear boundary from everyday life and helps you slow down. To the right, a path already runs towards my neighbours and our house; to the left, the path later leads to the dojo.

And: on the meadow between the hedge and the dojo, standing on a gentle hill, is a Japanese red pine over 20 years old – Tagyōshō, 多形松, the ‘multiform pine’. This multi-stemmed tree, with its wide-spreading crown, lends the place its first hint of Zen.

Further plan

The path to the dojo

A short detour designed to help us leave everyday life behind and prepare for our training. Along this path there is a …

… Machiai, 待合, a waiting area for arrival

Inspired by the design of Japanese tea gardens (roji, 露地, earthen floor), the Machiai is a spiritual waiting area in front of the dojo. Paul Böhm created a wax model to help determine its form. The waiting area is designed to be accessible via a footbridge in the middle of a small pond.

From the outside, it resembles a capa: a cloak, a coat. Inside there is a bench and a candle.

This sculptural, meditative space – which could also serve as an interfaith chapel – can be a place of quiet contemplation for all visitors, a place to arrive in the here and now.

The construction costs amount to approximately €160,000.00. In the hope that I will find enough donors, we have submitted a planning application. The City of Cologne has approved it.

Donations

Transformation: Church/Dojo

The process took 6½ years – from spring 2019 to summer 2025 – from our first visit to the Trinity Church, which was about to be deconsecrated, to the installation of a splash guard on the freshly rendered façade of the dojo.

The dojo is alive. We were able to move in here as early as 2022, whilst construction work was still under way. The spirit of our practice is woven into the very walls. It feels as though it has been part of this place from the very beginning.

The transformation is complete – the church has become a dojo. A space that carries history within it whilst, at the same time, breaking new ground.

Transformation of Kirchplatz/Dojo Garden

We have now reached the stage of creating the garden. Our quiet way of practising Aikido will also be reflected here: the dojo and garden merge into a single entity, inviting mindfulness in the spirit of the Zen tradition.

I would be delighted if our dojo garden project were to receive further support. Please note that we are unable to issue a tax-deductible donation receipt for the tax authorities.

or

Dirk Kropp, Practising Aikido
IBAN: DE51 3705 0198 0002 9926 26
COLSDE33XXX
Purpose: Donation Dojogarden

Samu (作務)

Joint maintenance of the dojo, garden and paths: Saturdays, 9.30 am to 12 noon.

Acknowledgements

My heartfelt thanks to the many, many practitioners from our dojo, former members and neighbours who have supported and continue to support this endeavour in their own unique ways. A project like this draws its strength from such widespread solidarity.

• Countless hours on the building site, in the garden or working behind the scenes.
   
• €212,746.81 in donations.

Ehrenfeld Protestant Parish

• ≥ €100,000.00 for the removal of hazardous materials / the repair of the drainage system / half the cost of the protective glazing (Resurrection Window) / the removal of paving from the forecourt and the preparation of the garden.

Government climate funding

• €93,258.00 for the refurbishment of the heating system and the roof.

City of Cologne

• €9,205.20 for improving the urban climate.

Craftsmanship

Over 90 tradespeople, engineers and technicians have been involved in the refurbishment so far.

Paul Böhm Architects,
Holger Reif, Ekoplan,
Ertl Structural Engineering,
Stefan Frenken Architects,
Patrick Posielski, P2 Fire Protection,
Sakosta, Pollutant Assessor,
Multitech, Environmental Technology,
Markus Breuer Electrical Engineering,
Plaster & Stucco, Daniel Dibke,
Frescolori,
Euler Roofing,
Erlus,
Heinrich Müller Joinery,
Christian Eggert Scaffolding,
mateco,
Jens Peter Reichert, PR Licht,
Schmidt Lighting,
Seeger, Architectural Lighting,
Norka, Industrial Lighting,
Florian Kick, Emit,
Theod. Mahr Söhne, church heating,
Lindholm, heritage conservation,
Josef Frings, Plumbing and Heating,
KWB Wood-Fired Heating Systems,
Diabos, concrete drilling,
Kermi,
Wüst Insulation,
Schneifel Pellets,
Mario Krech, MK Bau,
Hahn-Lamellen,
Schmitz Flooring Technology,
Gerflor, Floor Coverings,
Franke Metalworks,
Laudon,
Giovanni Noé, Pipe Cleaning,
N. Barsuhn – Heavy-lift services,
Michels Raumideen,
Little Green,
Sonnen Herzog,
KEIM, mineral paint,
Jochen Urbach,
Guido Jüsgen, Master Chimney Sweep,
Christian Schmitt, master chimney sweep,
Derix Glass Studios,
FSB,
AKM Window Cleaning,
Lukas Roth, Photography,
Antik Acente,
Ricon-Manufaktur,
DEPUNKT,
Schlottag,
Kettemer & Lange,
gbk Teamplan,
Dratschmidt Demolition,
Hedda Edel’s Medicinal Herbs,
Master Gardener Marcus Nitsche,
HEINZ SCHMITT – THE CRAFTSMANSHIP,
Ribo Roofing,
Velle Windows,
Herbert Baenfer, Locksmith,
Königsforst Nursery,
 

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Photo documentation ‘Umbau’

by Marlis Wodara, as at 22 May:

• Before and After
• Transformation of the church/dojo

Travelling exhibition

Museum of Building Culture NRW: ‘Churches as Fourth Places – Perspectives on Change’, curated by Felix Hemmers

• 14th stop, 1–29 November 26, Social-Ecological Centre, Dortmund
• 13th stop, 12 August to 13 September 26, Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche, Keyenberg
• 12th stop, 1 July to 1 August 2026, Süsterkirche, Bielefeld
• 11th venue, 29 March to 3 May 26, St Boniface’s Church, Aachen
• 10th Station, 8 February to 11 March 26, Christ the King Church, Borken
   
• 9th Station, 9 November to 13 December 25, Berger Church, Düsseldorf
• 8th stop, 5 October to 2 November 25, Neu St. Thomä, Soest
• 7th Station, 24 August to 28 September 25, St Ludgeri, Münster
• 6th Station, 13 July to 17 August, Kirche am Kolk, Wuppertal
• 5th Station, 1 June to 6 July 25, Johanniskirche, Hagen
• 4th Station, 26 April to 26 May 25, Nathanael Church, Cologne
• 3rd Station, 23 February to 6 April 25, Christuskirche, Hamm
   
• 2nd stop, 4 November to 1 December 24, Kreuzkirche, Dorsten
• 1st stop, 1 September to 6 October 24, Heilig-Geist-Kirche, Essen

Press/Media (#33)

• Article, 2 May 26, Rethinking Church Spaces, BAUKULTUR NRW
• Feature, 9 March 26, by Jan Hofer, ZDF ‘Volle Kanne’
• Article and feature, 11 January 26, by Jan Hofer, ZDFheute
• Article, 22 November 25, by Bettina Schneuer and Theodor Barth, F.A.Z. arts section
• Article, 13 November 25, by Theodor Barth, in the WOZ, Switzerland
• Article, 12 November 25, by Bettina Schneuer and Theodor Barth, F.A.Z. Quarterly 1/26
• Project description, 17 September 25, Paul Böhm Architects
• Word Cafè, 22 May 25, Sacred Spaces – New Concepts, Adventskirche, Kassel
• Feature, 4 May 25, by Henrike Kolletzki, ‘Churches Closing – What Now?’, 3sat and ZDF
• Podcast, 20 April 25, by Hildegard Sühling, WDR 5 Radio, ‘Diesseits von Eden’
• Article, 5 October 24, by Anna-Elisa Jakob, ZEIT ONLINE
• Podcast, 3 September 24, by Alexandra Busch, Architektourist
• Feature, 6 September 24, by Annalena Kirsten, RTL Television ‘West’
• Article, 27 August 24, by Johannes Bernard, ‘Kirche + Leben’,
• Article, 22 Jan 24, by Heribert Rösgen, Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger
• Article, 21 Jan 24, by Heribert Rösgen, Kölnische Rundschau
• Interview, April 23, with Paul Böhm and Dirk Kropp by Felix Hemmers in ‘Kunst und Kirche’
• Podcast, 11 Oct 23, by Claudia Friedrich, for WDR 3 Radio ‘Mosaik’
• Blog post, 10 Oct. 23, by Claudia Friedrich
• Feature, 13 August 23, by Norman Laryea, WDR 3 television ‘Aktuelle Stunde’
• Article, 12 July 23, by Heribert Rösgen, Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger and Kölnische Rundschau
• Architecture Day, 17–18 June 23, ‘Architecture Transforms’
• Podcast, 14 June 23, by Cornelia Wegerhoff, for WDR 3 Radio ‘Mosaik’
• Article, 26 March 23, by Felix Hemmers on BAUKULTUR NRW, ‘Future Church Spaces’
• Article, 1 July 22, by Angelika Stahl, Express die Woche
• Article, 24 June 22, Roland Friedrich ‘The Stained-Glass Artist Ingrid Vetter-Spilker’, in ‘Schau dich um’
• Article, 2 June 22, by Heribert Rösgen, Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger
• Article, 18 May 22, Prof. Dr Stefanie Lieb, Transara University of Bonn
• Interview, 18 May 22, Prof. Dr Stefanie Lieb, Domradio
• Article, 14 October 21, by Heribert Rösgen, Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger
• Article, 16 April 21, by Angelika Stahl, Kölner Wochenspiegel
• Article, 21 January 21, by Heribert Rösgen, Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger
• Interview, 25 August 20, by Ulrike Hilbrig and Georg Kanonenberg, Gemeindebrief

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