2002: Founding of the ‘House of Religions – Dialogue of Cultures’ association 2006: Founding of the Europaplatz – House of Religions Foundation 2011: Planning permission granted 2012–2014: Construction of the Europaplatz Centre
Architects
Architectural firms: Bauart Architekten und Planer AG, Urbanoffice Architects; Construction drawings: Architekten Schwaar & Partner AG
Client
Halter AG, Bern
Civil engineers
Smt AG Ingenieure + Planer
Description
The House of Religions is an interfaith and intercultural centre housing places of worship for five religious communities, a dialogue area with a restaurant, and associated administrative offices within the Europaplatz centre in Bern. In addition to the House of Religions, the building complex, constructed between 2012 and 2014 on behalf of the general contractor Halter AG, also houses a shopping centre, catering establishments, rental flats, offices and an underground car park.
When looking at the history of the building’s development, the question inevitably arises: is the Europaplatz Centre a religious building with mixed-use facilities, or rather a purely investment property with religious spaces? One thing is clear: on a patch of ‘urban residual land’ between a motorway viaduct, two S-Bahn stations and a busy cantonal road, a building unique in Europe has been created, one that has the potential to become part of our cultural heritage – and raises some fascinating questions about today’s Baukultur.
The occasion for the guided tours as part of Open House Bern 2026 is the ‘BauKulturErbe’ guide to the Europaplatz Centre, published in 2025. The first part of the guide traces the (architectural) history of the building step by step – from the initial ideas for interfaith dialogue in Bern to the opening of the centre in 2014. The second part presents the sacred spaces within the House of Religions in detail, whilst the third part contextualises and pays tribute to the building in terms of its social and architectural-historical significance.
Type of visit: Lecture, followed by guided tours in groups and self-guided tours Registration: required Group size: maximum 80 people per lecture and tour Meeting point: in front of the entrance to the House of Religions
Short introductory lecture (approx. 30 mins) on the history and construction of the Europaplatz Centre and the House of Religions association, followed by guided tours of the building and the vernissage of the ‘BauKulturErbe’ guide to the Europaplatz Centre, published in 2025. Presentations by Laila Sheikh, Director of the House of Religions, Stefan Graf, architect at Bauart Architekten und Planer AG, and Raphael Sollberger, architectural historian at Berner Heimatschutz
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