Cologne Cathedral — Architecture, Reflection, and Public Space

After watching the third Knives Out film, I realised that the Church is not just a building, but also something closely connected to community and the willingness to help others. I wouldn’t call myself a church — I simply believe that helping people is something that matters to all of us. I’m not a religious person, and I notice that the same thoughts come to me every time I visit places like this.I fully respect faith and everyone’s right to reflect on God and the meaning of life. Such reflection doesn’t require a specific place — it can happen anywhere. Many churches are undeniably beautiful, with remarkable architecture and carefully crafted decorative details, including big big golden elements that reflect their historical and cultural heritage.Perhaps that’s why I increasingly think about the practical side. According to general estimates, Europe has around 400,000–500,000 church buildings, from large cathedrals to small local churches. Even using a very cautious average of about 400 m² per building, this represents roughly 160–200 million square meters of space.Of course, not all of these buildings can or should be used differently — many are protected heritage sites, and there are legal, technical and safety limitations, which is completely understandable. Still, if even a small part of this potential were additionally used for social initiatives, it could provide real support for people facing difficult circumstances — those without housing, stability or safety, including refugees. We all don’t know how challenging (horrible) their conditions can be. For me, this thought isn’t about replacing spirituality, but about balance — where history, beauty and faith exist alongside care for people, here and now. Sometimes, these reflections arise precisely in the quiet of such places.