Katholische Kirche Felix und Regula

St. Felix and Regula Catholic Church (Katholische Kirche Felix und Regula) sits on Hardstrasse in the Aussersihl district of Zurich (Kreis 4). It is a postwar modernist ensemble that has long served as a neighbourhood centre and now carries heritage protection.

What is this place?

The church is dedicated to Felix and Regula, the saints regarded as patrons of Zurich. The complex went up between 1949 and 1951 to a design by architect Fritz Metzger (1898–1973), commissioned by the foundation Stiftung St. Felix und Regula. It consists of the church, a rectory and a freestanding bell tower, listed at Hardstrasse 76 and 86 and Hirzelstrasse 16.

What makes the architecture special?

The canton of Zurich's heritage inventory points to an unusual layout. Instead of the traditional long nave with a separate chancel, Metzger followed the ideas of the Liturgical Movement. Pews curve in a half circle around the chancel, and the altar stands free so the congregation gathers around it.

The slender tower rises at Felix-und-Regula-Platz. The inventory calls it an impressive piece of engineering and a feature that shapes the look of the surrounding streets. The rectory adjoins it to the southwest, and the parish hall on Hirzelstrasse was added in 1966–1968.

Who contributed to the interior?

The sculptor Albert Schilling (1904–1987) and the stained-glass artist Ferdinand Gehr (1896–1996) are named among the contributors. Protection covers the whole ensemble and the original building fabric, including the historic furnishings and artworks inside. Heritage authorities rate the site as significant beyond the municipal level. Swiss-Architects also lists a 2013 project here by the firm 10:8 Architekten.

Why Felix and Regula?

Zurich tradition holds that Felix and Regula were martyrs, and their cult has been tied to the city and its great churches, such as the Grossmünster, for centuries. After the grave was destroyed during the Reformation, veneration continued in non-liturgical forms. The Aussersihl church carries that dedication into a working-class district that grew west of the old centre.

How do you get there?

The church is in Kreis 4, a little over a kilometre from central Zurich, close to Hardstrasse. Zurich public transport is the easiest option, and it is also a walk from the main station area. Opening hours and service times are published by the Catholic parish of Zurich.

Frequently asked questions

Is the church a listed building? Yes. The church, rectory and tower are protected in the Zurich canton heritage inventory.

Who designed it? Fritz Metzger, with construction in 1949–1951.

What is unusual about it? The semicircular pews around a freestanding altar, and the slender separate tower.

Is it worth going inside? Yes, if you like twentieth-century architecture. The interior includes work by Albert Schilling and Ferdinand Gehr.