The power of emptiness

Public guided tour: Wednesday, 18 May, 6.30 pm

Prof. Dr Stefanie Lieb, art historian, University of Cologne
Prof Paul Böhm, architect of the conversion, TH Cologne
Dirk Kropp, aikido instructor and dojo leader

After we presented the rededication and construction plans to the public for the first time in September 2020, the months-long emptying of the church began.

I am infinitely grateful for the help of the many practitioners from our dojo. We removed and removed an unimaginable number of containers full of carpets, wood panelling, cables and, above all, stones, stones, stones ... with our own hands. Until everything was completely empty.

The construction of the dojo began. The changing rooms, the anteroom, the heating, the showers, the roof, the Kumiko, the eleven new windows, the floors and, last but not least, the installation of the mat. Even if that sounds like a lot (it was!), the rooms remain empty. Harmonious, purist and a touch of Wabi Sabi, 侘寂.

The interior work has noticeably completed the transformation of a church into a dojo. Next Wednesday, we would like to show this special training centre to the public on a guided tour.

I am looking forward to welcoming the art historian and architectural scholar Prof Dr Stefanie Lieb. She is the head of a research team on the subject of the transformation of sacred spaces.

And I am looking forward to meeting Prof Paul Böhm, the architect of our conversion. We will present our plans for the outside and discuss the "inside" with Mrs Lieb and the guests.

ADMISSION FREE !

Please note: Please take off your shoes in the entrance area of the building.