Bright Toll Tower – The new bell-tower in Fliedner village

Probably not many architects have ever considered this question, because nowadays new churches are seldom built in Europe. Most of the time it’s a matter of renovation, transformation or demolition, not of new planning. That’s why for Gunvar Blanck, too, it was the first time and neither was it a new building of a church. But nevertheless the thought occurred: ”What is a good building for a bell?” His clients from the Fliedner foundation in Mülheim on Ruhr have been asking this question for several years and they’ve realised that a fitting tower would be a very valuable precious worthy building in a double sense. Priceless for a social church institution. That’s why the bells of the old church haven’t rung for over 30 years. But the responsible people didn’t want to put up with the fact that the bells were being stored instead of being put to service. And so they asked the specialist for extraordinary solutions for fascias.

“A bell-tower is also a musical instrument”, says Gunvar Blanck. “It’s not only about visual, but also acoustic effects. And about the domination of movement. Because if the three tons of the bells in the upper floor start moving there are enormous masses swinging in unison. That requires a stable construction with a tight anchoring. Even bigger is the challenge to create a well sounding and light looking solution at a low price.

Gunvar Blanck has succeeded in creating a very special resonating room - simple and without flourish. On the ground-plan of four times four square metres there is a twenty-five metres high timber-frame construction with a “light garment”. The twenty-four ton tower, built on a pile foundation seems surprisingly light and has visually turned out well, too. As it allows a multi- perspective view according to the angle of the light, it reveals the simplicity of its constructive structure in an impressive back-light, without disturbing columns and static screen walls. The bell tower is a kaleidoscope of light and forms the centre point of the village. Beforehand lots of problems had to be solved. The light covering have to be extremely stretched - no flying banner in the wind, rather tight as a drum. High standard for all materials. But Gunvar Blanck didn’t give in, he experimented with his own retaining systems, searched for the right solutions together with his colleges from the University Essen – and was successful. Because of Professor Baier he got into touch with EPS. A fitting profile could be found. With EPS LUMI it became possible to tension the mesh fabric over the full width and length. That’s how, within three months, not only a new bell tower was being created, but also a special impressive interplay of light and sound. According to the time of day or night the changing light conditions keep putting the tower into the right light.

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