Design for Meaningful Change

Your church building matters.

We help you understand how — and to whom.

neoraum.studio supports parishes, dioceses, and stakeholders in building a clear, evidence-based understanding of what their church building means to the community around it — before decisions are made.

Start a conversation

Church buildings are not only physical structures. They are part of the emotional, cultural, and social fabric of a place.

Their significance is not limited to those who use them regularly. Neighbours, families, local institutions, and even those who have never entered the building often hold a relationship to it — sometimes a surprisingly strong one.

These relationships influence how change is perceived, accepted, or resisted. And yet, they are rarely made visible.

The consequence

Important decisions are often based on partial information — focused on structural condition, cost, and potential use, while overlooking the deeper values attached to the building.

Our premise

That these relationships can be understood in a structured way — and that once they are, they provide a more complete and reliable basis for decision-making.

The Framework

The 12 Place Functions

Our analysis is based on the 12 Place Functions — a framework developed from research in environmental psychology, place attachment theory, and long-term fieldwork with religious institutions. It captures the different ways a building can matter to the people around it.

Hover or tap any of the 12 functions to explore its meaning.

01 · 12

Each of these dimensions is measured independently. Together, they provide a comprehensive picture of the building's meaning — and a reliable basis for the decisions that follow.

How It Works

Structured understanding, before decisions are made.

The Survey

We design and conduct a structured survey tailored to your specific building and local context. Each participant evaluates the building across all 12 Place Functions.

Who we reach
  • Regular churchgoers
  • Occasional visitors
  • Non-religious neighbours
  • Local families
  • Businesses and stakeholders
The Result

The outcome is a Place Function Profile: a clear, visual representation of how the building is perceived and valued — a differentiated, evidence-based picture of the building's role within the community.

It shows
  • which aspects of the building are most important
  • how different groups perceive it
  • where there is shared understanding
  • and where perspectives differ
Why This Matters

Having this understanding changes the starting point of any further process. It also provides a shared reference point for discussions with stakeholders, partners, and the public.

It allows decision-makers to
  • work with a clearer awareness of what is at stake
  • identify which aspects require particular care
  • anticipate where sensitivities may arise
  • and communicate more precisely and credibly
What Makes This Different
Most processes begin with the building.
We begin with the community.
Most tools describe what a building is.
We describe what it means.
Most consultation happens after decisions are made.
We work before — so the decisions are better.

The result is not just a smoother process. It is a better outcome: one that the community can recognise as their own, because it was built on an honest understanding of what they actually value.

When to Use It

Our work ideally takes place at an early stage — once it is clear that change may be necessary, but before concrete proposals are communicated publicly. This often makes subsequent steps more structured, more transparent, and easier to communicate.

The Profile can be used as
  • a basis for internal decision-making
  • supporting documentation with authorities and funders
  • input for architectural and planning processes
  • part of a broader communication strategy
Who We Work With

Our Clients

The Team

About the Founders

SP

Sebastian D. Plötzgen

Founder & Theological Consultant
Based in Herxheim, Germany

A theologian, tourism expert, and analytical practitioner with over 15 years of international experience at the intersection of cultural heritage, community development, and the future of religious buildings.

Developer of Destination Interaction Theory (DIT) and the 12 Place Functions framework. Advisory work includes monasteries and pilgrimage sites in Palestine, Jerusalem, and Egypt, and collaboration with GIZ, UN-Habitat, and the European Union.

sebastian.ploetzgen@neoraum.studio
AB

Ashraf Bakri

Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer
Based in Jerusalem

A computer engineer, social entrepreneur, and digital innovation specialist with over a decade of experience building digital infrastructure for community-centred, data-driven work.

Co-founder of Hantourism, Enjoy Jenin, and Mount41. Led development of the Destination Palestine Open Data Repository and the East Jerusalem Tourism Community Platform — large-scale digital infrastructure projects that form the technical backbone of neoraum.studio.

ashraf.bakri@neoraum.studio
Get In Touch

Start with a conversation.

Every building has a different story, and every community has a different set of bonds. There is no standard package — only a genuine interest in understanding your specific situation and exploring whether and how we can help.

No obligation. No sales pitch. Just a shared interest in getting it right.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions