Light for a landmark of Jewish culture
LAMILUX Glass Roofs for the Synagogue Reichenbachstraße in Munich
When historic buildings are refurbished, the focus extends far beyond technical upgrades or energy efficiency improvements. It is about preserving history, maintaining architectural integrity, and restoring the impact of places of great cultural and social significance. The Synagogue Reichenbachstraße in Munich is a striking example of this approach.
With its reopening, the city regained not only an architectural landmark, but an important Jewish place of worship. Eight LAMILUX Glass Roofs PR60 make a significant contribution to the building’s architecture. They once again bring natural daylight into the impressive rooflights set within the ceiling, helping to restore the building’s original spatial concept and allowing visitors to experience the space as it was originally intended.
More than a building refurbishment
The renovation of the Synagogue demonstrates that work on existing buildings goes far beyond the preservation of physical fabric. When a building carries such a complex and layered history, refurbishment also involves a profound sense of responsibility. It is not only about preserving what is materially present, but also about safeguarding what a place represents.
In the case of the Synagogue Reichenbachstraße, this responsibility operates on several levels: the architectural significance of an important modernist religious building, its role as a Jewish place of worship, and the historical depth of a site shaped by destruction, loss, and renewal. Particularly in times of uncertainty and change, it becomes clear how important it is not only to preserve such places, but also to reinforce their relevance and meaning for the present day.
Light shapes the atmosphere of the space
Daylight plays a significant role in creating this effect. It does far more than simply illuminate the interior, shaping the entire atmosphere of the space. The light enters softly and evenly, creating a contemplative environment while lending depth and tranquillity to the interior. Particularly in a place of worship, light is more than a functional element. It supports orientation, reflection, and perception.
The ornate windows also contribute to this effect, adding structure and character to the space. However, the large rooflights draw the eye upwards and make the ceiling itself an integral part of the architectural experience. They give the interior a lighter and more expansive appearance, enhancing the sense of height and contemplation. In this way, daylight becomes a key design element, playing a decisive role in shaping the unique spatial quality of the synagogue.
LAMILUX restores the original daylight concept
This is where LAMILUX skylights come into play. LAMILUX installed eight Glass Roofs PR60 in a pitched roof configuration, restoring the rooflights above the synagogue ceiling to their original function and bringing them back to life.
The glass roofs return daylight to precisely the areas where it is essential to the character of the interior. In places of worship, light from above creates a calm, even and soft atmosphere. At the Synagogue Reichenbachstraße, this form of daylighting reinforces the presence of the ceiling, emphasises the depth of the upper part of the space and once again makes the rooflights an integral element of the architectural concept.
The LAMILUX Glass Roof PR60 proved particularly well suited to the requirements of refurbishment projects. Especially when working with existing buildings, it can be adapted to the existing structure with millimetre precision. As a result, it makes a significant contribution to energy efficiency, acoustic performance, and the preservation of the space’s architectural quality.
Returning to the original spatial concept
The significance of the refurbishment becomes clear when viewed in the context of the site’s unique history and architecture. The Synagogue Reichenbachstraße was inaugurated in 1931 and is one of the few surviving pre-war Jewish religious buildings in Germany. Gustav Meyerstein designed the modern place of worship in accordance with the principles of New Objectivity. Rather than relying on elaborate ornamentation, the space was intended to derive its impact from order, height, and the deliberate use of daylight. The rooflights played a leading role in this concept. They opened the space towards the sky, emphasised the ceiling and imbued the interior with a calm and dignified atmosphere.
During the November Pogrom of 1938, however, the synagogue was severely damaged. Although it was made usable again after the war, the spatial character originally envisioned by Meyerstein remained hidden for decades. The recent refurbishment has helped to restore this original design concept, demonstrating how sensitive interventions in existing buildings can preserve history while bringing architectural quality back into focus.
A light that endures
With the installation of eight Glass Roofs PR60, LAMILUX has contributed to the Reichenbachstrasse Synagogue that extends far beyond the provision of daylight. The systems once again bring natural light to the rooflights, reinforcing a key element of the building’s original architectural concept. In doing so, they not only enhance the impact of the carefully restored interior but also support the sensitive preservation of a place where architecture, history and Jewish life are closely intertwined.