Are modern church buildings similar to traditional mosques?
Böhm: Yes, you could say that. One exits the hectic of the city and enters a meditative space where one can find tranquility. This is the same for mosques and churches. Are you personally religious? Böhm: Religious, yes, but I am not a practicing believer. And I am also not a Muslim. I am often faced with this question. Yet, you don’t have to be a criminal to build a prison or be sick to build a hospital! Instead, what is important is the art of empathizing with the needs of those who will later use the building being designed. Did your religious convictions play a role in the awarding of the contract to build the mosque? Böhm: No. Recently, an old developer congratulated me. He said, “I take my hat off to the Muslim community for conducting such an open tender process! We were only allowed to hire a Catholic architect for our church construction project.” Does this openness also reflect itself in your design? Böhm: Yes, this is why there is a large, inviting staircase coming up from t
