In the organizer's words:

Many church buildings are currently threatened by vacancy and demolition. At the same time, they represent a unique architectural heritage and important places of community, associated with many emotions and memories. This is reflected in the protracted and conflict-ridden processes of converting church buildings. Their outcome is determined above all by the personal commitment of the people involved. From 9.11. to 13.12.2025 , the Museum der Baukultur NRW 's exhibition "Churches as Fourth Places - Perspectives on Change" focuses on people who are involved in church transformations for various reasons. The exhibition will be presented in the Berger Church in Düsseldorf. The opening will take place on Sunday, 9.11.2025, at 6 pm.

More than ever, our society needs places for social exchange and social identification. Church buildings are particularly suitable for this - their architecture creates identity in the urban space, provides people with space for exchange, spirituality and contemplation and has a unique atmosphere and emotional quality. Churches thus create something new, a "fourth place" that goes beyond its function as a meeting place for the community (the so-called third places).

Video interviews on transformations
In the exhibition, the Museum der Baukultur NRW uses video interviews to illustrate the range, diversity and complexity of the people involved in the conversion processes and their attitudes. How does an architect approach the conversion, what does a parishioner think at the last mass, how does a pastor accompany the conversion, where does a real estate developer start? It is also about dialog, cooperation and finding compromises.

27 examples of converted churches in NRW
Another focus of the exhibition is on churches from North Rhine-Westphalia that have already been converted: a total of 27 projects are presented in photos and texts, for example the Christus-König church in Düsseldorf (family center), the Trinity Church in Cologne (Aikido dojo), the Friedenskirche church in Bochum (district center), St. Rochus in Jülich (bicycle store) or the Kreuzeskirche church in Essen (mixed use for church services and events). This makes the range of transformations in terms of content and architecture visible. The exhibition also provides information on topics such as monument protection, the role of local authorities and church law. "Churches as Fourth Places" provides an impetus and opens up dialogues about the future of spaces no longer used for liturgical purposes. Accompanying discussions bring local communities, residents, associations and other groups into contact and stimulate exchange.

The Berger Church in Düsseldorf
The exhibition venue, Berger Church, is an important architectural monument in Düsseldorf. The small hall church was consecrated in 1687 as the city's first Lutheran church. Somewhat hidden away, it can only be reached via the courtyard of Berger Straße 18. Its location indicates that Lutherans were merely tolerated in re-Catholicized Düsseldorf at the time. In 1943, the Berger Church was largely destroyed during the Second World War, rebuilt in the 1960s and re-consecrated in 1966.
The current interior was created by the artist Tobias Rehberger: geometrically patterned, color-graded wall hangings for the side walls and a white acrylic glass altar. In 2011, the Psychosocial Center Düsseldorf set up a place of mourning for refugees and immigrants who have no access to the graves of their loved ones on the outside of the church. There is also a pop-up pastoral care service every Tuesday. Today, the church is no longer used for religious services, but is occasionally used for cultural events and meetings. With its simple architecture and central location, the Berger Church combines history, spirituality and an open offer for the urban community. The future use of the church is currently unclear.

3,000 churches fall out of use
The Museum der Baukultur NRW is presenting the exhibition against the backdrop of massive change affecting churches and their congregations: Between 30 and 50 percent of church buildings in Germany will be empty in the coming decades. This means that of the approximately 6,000 churches in North Rhine-Westphalia, up to 3,000 will fall into disuse. Until a few years ago, church institutions had little or nothing to do with this trend, but now the pressure to deal with the existing buildings is increasing significantly.