Bishop’s tomb Sülchenkirche
The Sülchenkirche church is located on the eastern outskirts of Rottenburg – a place with centuries of history. The burial vault of the Rottenburg bishops, whose origins date back to the late Middle Ages, is located underground. Due to its poor state of preservation, a competition was held to renovate and extend it, which was won by the Vorarlberg architectural firm Cukrowicz Nachbaur.
During the work, however, much older traces came to light: foundations from pre-Romanesque times, remains of walls from the 7th and 8th centuries. These were uncovered and preserved for the public – the new burial chamber was moved to a new location to the west. The underground room is completely lined in rammed earth – from floor to ceiling. In its clarity, it is reminiscent of early rock tombs and refers to what a burial chamber is at its core: a place of retreat, of silence, of returning to the earth.
The clay comes from the excavation pit – past and present are impressively combined here. The precisely joined, handcrafted walls lend the room a powerful sense of calm. The cool feel, the muted colors and the deep texture of the material create an atmosphere of concentration and contemplation – in awareness of the finite nature of human life.
Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart
Lehm Ton Erde Baukunst GmbH
