Kirche Wipkingen

Kirche Wipkingen in Zürich is a Reformed Protestant church from the early 1900s in the Wipkingen district (Zürich's District 10). It is now in the middle of an unusual second life: classrooms rather than services.

What is the history of the church?

The Reformed parish of Wipkingen was founded in 1865. The parish only got its own church decades later, in 1908–1909, as the district was growing quickly. The federal ISOS inventory lists the church among the notable buildings of Wipkingen. The church closed at the end of 2018 and has not been used for worship since 2019. The City of Zürich and the parish have worked together on a new use for the building ever since.

What is happening to it now?

The city is converting the church into school space for the Waidhalde school, the first time a church building in Zürich serves directly as a school. The scheme comes from the Basel firm Vécsey Schmidt Architekt*innen with Anderegg Partner AG, and the budget is CHF 9.3 million. Work was coordinated with the city's heritage office.

The architects used light, reversible structures that can be removed without trace and kept the heated volume to a minimum. The ground floor holds a multipurpose and singing hall, childcare and catering rooms, and a library. Upstairs, a large unheated "Sommersaal" lets visitors still read the architecture of the former nave. The parish says the new use keeps the building's public character. The rooms are meant to be ready for the 2026/27 school year.

Can you visit Kirche Wipkingen?

It is now a school, so do not expect regular sightseeing hours. The best plan is to see the exterior as part of a walk through the neighbourhood. Check the City of Zürich or parish announcements before trying to go inside.

How do you get to Wipkingen?

Wipkingen lies north of central Zürich on the right bank of the Limmat. It is served by the ZVV public transport network and reached from Hauptbahnhof in a short ride.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the same church as Guthirt?

No. Wipkingen has two churches. Kirche Wipkingen is Reformed, while the Catholic Guthirt parish was founded in 1923 and has its own church.

When was the church built?

In 1908–1909. The Reformed parish had existed in Wipkingen since 1865.

Are services still held here?

No. The building has not been used for church purposes since 2019.

Who is converting the church?

Vécsey Schmidt Architekt*innen of Basel won the architectural competition for the school conversion.