Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Dominikus Bhm
Died
August 6, 1955
Cologne
Nationality Germany
Occupation architect
Known for architect of churches in Germany
Children
Gottfried Bhm
Parent(s)
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.
Christknig in
Bischofsheim, 1925
Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche in
Dlmen
Grave of Dominikus
Bhm in Cologne
St. Engelbert in
Cologne, 19281932
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