Common Ground

Adaptive Conversion of an Vacant Sacred Building into Community Housing

Master's Thesis | Katrin Wunder | 4th Semester | Summer Semester 2026

Common Ground explores the adaptive reuse of the vacant Philippuskirche in Munich-Giesing as a community living space and a “third place.” Against the backdrop of a housing shortage, social fragmentation, and vacant religious buildings, the project combines resource-efficient renovation of existing structures with new forms of housing and community life. Through adaptive reuse, existing qualities are preserved, social participation is promoted, and public gathering spaces are created. The goal is a sustainable architectural approach that equally considers ecological, social, and urban planning requirements.

Master's thesis supervised by professor Jens Betha

Site plan 1:1000
Site plan, scale 1:200
Ground floor plan, scale 1:100
Floor plan, 1st floor, scale 1:100
Floor plan, 3rd floor, scale 1:100
Scale 1:100
Section view of the community centre, scale 1:50
Facade section of the community centre, scale 1:25
Perspective section of church façade, scale 1:50
Church façade section, scale 1:25

Katrin Wunder

“We shape our buildings, and thereafter they shape us.”

- Winston Churchill

[Image: Katrin Wunder]
International Master of Interior-Architectural Design