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 conversationChurch 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Re:Place helps communities understand what matters before decisions about church repurposing go public. A simple, structured 5-step approach.
Clearer understanding
Less conflict
Better decisions
Broader support
The outcome is a clear, visual representation of how the building is perceived and valued. It shows which aspects matter most, how different groups experience them, and where perspectives align — or diverge. This creates a differentiated, evidence-based picture that supports every subsequent step.
Re:Place is most effective once change may be necessary, but before concrete proposals are communicated publicly. At that stage, it can establish a credible shared reference point for the decisions that follow.
That often makes subsequent steps more structured, more transparent, and easier to communicate across parishes, dioceses, authorities, and local stakeholders.
A clearer view of what is at stake before priorities are fixed.
Structured supporting material for discussions with heritage bodies, municipalities, and partners.
A grounded brief for design teams working on adaptive reuse concepts.
A more precise basis for when, how, and to whom future proposals are introduced.
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.studioA 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.studioEvery 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.
