Dominik Gehl Photography - Steinkirche Cazis

The “rock church“ was designed in 1995 by Werner Schmidt for the Protestant parish in Cazis, Grisons. Construction started in April 1996: 108 different wooden elements were placed on a foundation, covered with a fine-meshed metal grid and then coated with shotcrete until a thickness of 15cm. In January 1998 the church was put into operation with a provisional heating system.

The church building consists of three round, stone-shaped structures. The room on the west side is used mostly for social events and contains a large floor-to-ceiling window. The room on the east side, used for the liturgy, contains a skylight directing the view towards the sky.

The sculptures in front of the Church are by Daniel Grass.

Steinkirche Cazis and sculpture by Daniel Grass

Steinkirche Cazis - west structure with floor-to-ceiling window

Steinkirche Cazis window

Steinkirche Cazis

Architect Werner Schmidt's building design was divided into two elements: the three spherical concrete volumes on one side and an elongated building in front of it for the foyer and ancillary rooms. A change of architect happened though after the three "stones" had been built and the connecting wing made of wood and mirrored glass was built under the direction of architect Diederik Peper.

Steinkirche Cazis

After the completion of the interior, the rock church was officially inaugurated in January 2002.

Steinkirche Cazis - connecting wing

Steinkirche Cazis - interior

Steinkirche Cazis - ceiling

The change of architect led to a legal battle with regard to the design of the connecting wing. In 2007, the Cantonal Court of Grisons confirmed that Werner Schmidt's copyright had been infringed and he was awarded compensation.