Veit Aschenbrenner Architects

The New Apostolic Church in Donaustadt was completed in 1984. After 35 years, it was time to carry out a major renovation.
The redesign of the church was driven by functional requirements and the need for structural improvements. The new canopy enhances the church’s presence on Eipeldauerstraße, and the building’s composition is now more harmonious. The entrance area has been adapted to be barrier-free.
The rearrangement of the openings and lighting defines light, space, and structure within the church interior. A new east-facing window, on the one hand, and the reduction in the number of window openings, on the other, sharpen the design.
The redesign of the altar area creates space for music and activity in front of and around the altar. The newly designed staircase brings the congregation closer to the altar.
Contemporary seating replaces the pews in nearly the same number. The redesigned gallery improves visibility and also enhances acoustics.
The bright, welcoming surfaces lend the space a calm and clear atmosphere, facilitating both contemplation and solemnity.
In the basement, the rooms were brought up to standard, and the restroom facilities were renovated. The new lighting enhances the rooms here as well. Comfort was enhanced by insulating the exterior walls and roof, as well as replacing the windows with ones featuring sun protection, thereby also contributing to climate protection. A creative, positive side effect was the softening of the façade through the addition of sun-shading louvers.

Awarded the Architecture Prize "gebaut 2022" from Stadt Wien.