Hans Georg Esch

Hans Georg Esch, the internationally renowned architectural photographer, who has also entered the art world with enormous success in recent years, particularly with his images from Pompeii, has been photographing the Böhm family's architecture for over 20 years. In Essen, he is showing a selection of these photographs, comprising approximately 50 images, under the title BÖHM IN BÖHM.

Dominikus Böhm (1880-1955), his son Gottfried Böhm (1920-2021) – the first German Pritzker Prize winner – and his sons Paul (*1959), Peter (*1954), and Stephan (*1950) Böhm have formed THE German architectural dynasty since the end of the Second World War. They have become household names in the global architectural world, primarily through iconic designs of churches, but also for residential quarters, administrative and event buildings, and a mosque. Dominikus Böhm was responsible for the first designs for the Holy Spirit Church in the north of Essen, in the Katernberg district – in the immediate vicinity of what was once the world's largest coal mine, now the Zollverein World Heritage Site. The foundation stone was laid in 1956 – at that time, Essen was still part of the Archdiocese of Cologne.

After his father's death, Gottfried Böhm completed this project. The Holy Spirit Church was consecrated in 1957, the Ruhr Diocese of Essen was founded in 1958, and the "Böhmkirche" was listed as a historic monument in 2019. The last service was held there in 2020, and in 2024 it was deconsecrated and converted into an exhibition space for art and a cultural center. On April 6, the Holy Spirit Art Space at the Zollverein UNESCO World Heritage Site opened there.

Opening: May 11, 2025, 4 p.m.
Book launch: May 25, 2025, 4 p.m.
Closing / Curator's tour: June 9, 2025, 12 p.m.