Gottfried Böhm

Gottfried Böhm (; 23 January 1920 – 9 June 2021) was a German architect and sculptor. His reputation is based on creating highly sculptural buildings made of concrete, steel, and glass. Böhm's first independent building was the Cologne chapel "Madonna in the Rubble" (now integrated into Peter Zumthor's design of the Kolumba museum renovation). The chapel was completed in 1949 where a medieval church once stood before it was destroyed during World War II.

Early life Böhm was born in Offenbach am Main near Frankfurt on 23 January 1920. He was the youngest of three children of Maria and Dominikus Böhm. His father was renowned for his numerous avant-garde churches throughout Germany, many in Expressionist style.

Career After graduating in 1947, Gottfried worked for his father until the latter's death in 1955, and later took over his firm. During this period, he also worked with the "Society for the Reconstruction of Cologne" under Rudolf Schwarz.

A 2014 documentary titled "Concrete Love – The Böhm Family" explores Gottfried's relationship with his sons and his wife.

Personal life Böhm was married to Elizabeth Haggenmüller, also an architect, until her death in 2012. Together, they had four sons: Stephan, Peter, Paul and Markus. The first three also became architects, while Markus worked as a painter.

Böhm died on the night of 9 June 2021 at his home in Cologne, aged 101. The cause of death was not disclosed. Under the patronage of Cologne's mayor Henriette Reker the one-year residency scholarship takes place in the metropolis of Cologne. The scholarship holder is given the opportunity to work for one year on creative and visionary tasks in architecture and urban development for Cologne and its periphery. For this period he or she will receive free accommodation, a workplace in a creative environment in the heart of the city and a monthly grant totaling 2,500 euros. The scholarship is offered and supervised by the Verein der Freunde und Förderer der Technischen Hochschule Köln e.V. (Association of Friends and Sponsors of the Cologne University of Applied Sciences).

Postgraduate architects can apply. The current application phase runs until May 31, 2025. The scholarship starts in October 2025 and runs for one year.

Notable buildings

1947–50 St. Kolumba, Cologne 1968–72 Maria, Königin des Friedens pilgrimage church, Neviges

Awards 1968 – Eduard-von-der-Heydt Prize from the city of Wuppertal 1971 – Architecture Prize of the Association of German Architects, Düsseldorf 1974 – Berlin Art Prize of the Academy of Arts, Berlin 1986 – Pritzker Architecture Prize, Chicago, US 1987 – Gebhard Fugel Prize, Munich 1993 – Rheinischer Kulturpreis