The neo-Gothic cathedral in Linz is one of Austria’s largest and most ambitious church buildings, constructed between 1865 and 1924. In 2024, the diocese celebrates its 100th anniversary.
In recent years, Catholic communities have faced significant challenges: declining membership, waning acceptance of church institutions, and decreasing societal relevance. While many congregations respond with budget cuts, property sales, and the secularization of sacred spaces, the Archdiocese of Linz takes a progressive and innovative approach.
Building on the parish’s success in pastoral, artistic, and social work, it is also redefining itself architecturally. The new Domcenter on the east side of the cathedral continues existing restructuring efforts, such as creating an open plaza facing the city of Linz. This addition also establishes a low-threshold, secular entrance to the church, reminiscent of welcoming areas in cultural institutions like concert halls or museums. Visitors enter through a bright, modern café and a welcoming bookshop before being guided via the former sacristy of the east chapel to the proper liturgical entrance of the "pathway church" in the north.
The Domcenter serves as the starting point for guided cathedral tours. In addition to multimedia displays and the presentation of original artifacts within the nave, the adjacent east chapel houses the cathedral treasury exhibition. A two-story, walkable exhibition structure offers insights into the sacred, liturgical, pastoral, and cultural dimensions of the cathedral in both analog and digital formats while showcasing valuable artworks. An interactive display case and an internal lift provide visitors with new perspectives on historical ecclesiastical art by elevating them to the window level of the former chapel.
The layout of the cathedral treasury display is based on an "Einstein tile" pattern, which allows seamless tiling without rigid repetition. This motif is used throughout all exhibition vitrines within the cathedral and the new Domcenter.
Architecturally, the Domcenter references traditional lightweight tent roofs and historic market stalls. It consists of three canopies that appear to be suspended from the cathedral’s facade. Their form, reminiscent of inverted vault structures, gives them a light, floating appearance. To complement the cathedral’s high-quality stone exterior, an advanced freeform concrete construction was chosen. This method allows for a slim profile while minimizing material use and CO2 consumption. Over time, the concrete absorbs nearly all the CO2 emitted during its production.
For conservation reasons, the extension could not be structurally connected to the cathedral. Instead, the three shell structures each rest on a single support. These shells rise toward the facade without touching it, while the canopy supports prevent tilting toward the cathedral.
The canopies consist of a double-shell structure: the inner, load-bearing shell is three-dimensionally curved, creating a soft, welcoming atmosphere. The outer shell, placed over an intermediate layer of insulation, is only two-dimensionally curved, mirroring the pointed arches of the cathedral’s side aisles.
Inside the Domcenter, a straight counter guides visitors to various functions, including the café, information desk, and bookshop. The space also serves as a gathering point for both religious and secular events.
The entire Domcenter, its cantilevered canopy, and the former sacristy are built over an underground level housing technical facilities, restrooms, lockers, and storage areas. A staircase and an elevator connect all three levels—church, plaza, and basement—ensuring full accessibility and enabling various indoor and outdoor activities.
With the new Domcenter, the Linz cathedral gains a modern extension that enriches its ecclesiastical functions with a welcoming, secular service area. At the same time, the redesign revitalizes a previously underutilized part of the site, creating an inviting new focal point for visitors.
