Markuskirche

Markuskirche in Zurich is a Reformed church in the northern district of Seebach. It sits on the Buhnrain hill at Höhenring 56 and counts among the city's most interesting examples of postwar Swiss church architecture.

What makes Markuskirche special?

Architect Albert Heinrich Steiner designed the church, and it was built in 1947-48. Instead of the usual nave and chancel, it follows an octagonal plan meant to express a congregation seated in a circle around the pulpit. When it opened, that break with tradition made the design controversial.

A reinforced concrete frame carries a tent-shaped roof, while the walls are sandstone blocks backed with brick. A band of windows under the roofline lets daylight in, and a gallery wraps around three sides of the octagon.

What can you see inside and around the church?

• A large wooden cross on the wall behind the pulpit.
• A ceiling painted with a white star on a blue field, by Eugen Haefelfinger.
• Four Ten Commandments panels by Konrad Grimmer and a pulpit carpet by Max Hunziker and Lissy Funk.
• An organ by Orgelbau Kuhn from 1948, with 39 stops over three manuals and pedal, revised in 1985 and 2009.
• A freestanding 35-metre tower holding five bells cast by H. Rüetschi, the smaller ones in 1948 and the largest in 1953.
• A forecourt garden laid out by landscape architect Gustav Ammann.

The building was renovated in 1977-78.

How does the church fit into Seebach's history?

Seebach had a church long before this one: a new building went up in 1664, and the Reformed parish was founded in 1863. The 1947-48 Markuskirche stands with nearby school buildings, such as Buhnrain from 1931-34, on the Buhnhügel. The federal ISOS inventory lists these buildings as defining features of the village's character.

How do you get there?

Seebach lies in the north of Zurich, and the church stands on a rise along Höhenring. Public transport from the city centre is the easiest option, followed by a short uphill walk. Coordinates are roughly 47.420 N, 8.541 E.

When should you visit?

Come during the day, when the tower and the church's shape stand out against the hillside and light enters through the windows beneath the roof. Check the Zürich-Seebach Reformed parish website before you go for opening hours, services and concerts.

Frequently asked questions

Who designed Markuskirche in Zurich? Albert Heinrich Steiner, and the church was completed in 1948.

What sets the building apart? Its octagonal plan with a tent roof and a three-sided gallery, plus a freestanding 35-metre tower.

Is it the only church with this name? No. Other Markuskirche buildings exist elsewhere, for instance in Bettlach in the canton of Solothurn. This one stands in the Seebach district.

Is the organ worth a look? Yes. The 1948 Kuhn instrument has 39 stops and remains in regular use for church music.