Dominikus Bhm

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Dominikus Bhm (October 23, 1880 August 6, 1955)

was a German architect specializing in churches. He built
churches in Cologne, the Ruhr area, Swabia, and Hesse.
Many of his buildings are examples of Brick
Expressionism.

Dominikus Bhm

Life and career

Bhm was born in Jettingen as the youngest of six
children to builder and major Alois Bhm and his wife
Katharina (ne Hofmiller).
He studied at the Augsburg University of Applied
Sciences and graduated in 1900. He became a teacher at
the Hochschule fr Gestaltung Offenbach from 19081926. He also attended lectures by Theodor Fischer at the
University of Stuttgart.
He worked with several partners, including Martin Weber
and Rudolf Schwarz, designing and constructing
churches.
He first taught at the Rheinische Technicum in Bingen,
and than from 1908 to 1926 at what is now the College of
Design in Offenbach, with the architect Rudolf Schwarz
in a joint workshop.
In 1926, Bhm became professor for Christian art under
Richard Riemerschmid at the Klner Werkschulen in
Cologne. His works, including the Christ the King church
(Christknigskirche) in Bischofsheim, polarized between
support (e.g. by the art historian August Hoff) and
rejection (e.g. Michael von Faulhaber).

Dominikus Bhm, by Hugo Schmlz

Born

October 23, 1880

Jettingen

Died

August 6, 1955
Cologne

Nationality Germany
Occupation architect
Known for architect of churches in Germany
Children

Gottfried Bhm

Parent(s)

Alois and Katharina Bhm (nee

Hofmiller)

During World War II he became (through his membership in the Block Klner Bauknstler) member of the
NSDAP, but never engaged in construction for the government. While he was reluctant to sign his personal
correspondence with the prescribed party greetings, he was willing to compete for government commissions
alongside architects like Gropius and Mies van der Rohe.[1] Four of his largest churches were built during
the reign of the Third Reich. He enjoyed high standing within Nazi Germany, demonstrated by the fact that
in 1943 he was the subject of one of the last architectural monographs published before the end of the war.
[2]

His church designs took inspiration from the communal emphasis of Guardini's theology; however his
architectural aeshtetic and personal behaviour cannot deny the political ramifications of the ideas to which
he sought to give built form. After the war, he retook his position in Cologne, and constructed eight new
churches in the massively damaged city.
He was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit in 1950, and the Order of St. Sylvester in 1952.

Bhm died in Cologne, where he was buried on August 10, 1955.

Architectural expression and legacy

Bhm took advantage of modern building materials and techniques. By reducing the form of the church to
its essential shape, the lighting of the altar and the sophisticated design of the altar, he created a new
tradition of modern church architecture. In particular, he used light as a building material, and as part of the
liturgy.
Bhm also considered liturgical questions which may have indirectly influenced the doctrine of the Second
Vatican Council. His special merit was his belief in the participation of the community in worship, using the
structure of early church buildings as a model. His churches are characterised by simple monumentality and
especially by the new emphasis on the altar area as central.
Stained glass was one of his passions. So he designed the stained glass windows, built for Holy Ghost
Church in Brunswick-Lehndorf in 1952. He also served as a musician and composer, and composed
numerous songs and sacred music. The postmodern architect Heinz Bienefeld began his career as an
assistant of his.
Part of his legacy is preserved at the German Architecture Museum in Frankfurt, while another part was
located in the Historical Archive of the City of Cologne but was probably lost in the collapse of the archive
building on 3 March 2009.[3]
He is the father of architect Gottfried Bhm.

Bhms first church: St.

Josef in Offenbach

Christknig in
Bischofsheim, 1925

Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche in
Dlmen

Grave of Dominikus
Bhm in Cologne

St. Engelbert in
Cologne, 19281932

Stella Maris on the

island of Norderney,
1931

References
1. Kathleen James-Chakraborty, German Architecture for a Mass Audience (London, 2000), p. 100
2. Kathleen James-Chakraborty, German Architecture for a Mass Audience (London, 2000), p. 100
3. Nine missing as Cologne archives collapse (http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gcv6Kh8jePA0
Ga6l7ozFiRo_HjmQ), AFP, March 3, 2009

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Commanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Knights of St. Sylvester
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