Exterior
The reconstruction of the Kleiner Michel (1953–1955) is extraordinary even beyond Hamburg, as it was financed in part by France. The French High Commissioner, François Poncet, wanted to honor the historic ties between France and Hamburg. This gesture also aligned with French foreign policy at the time, which sought a strong cultural presence within the emerging postwar order.
A renowned French architect, Jean-Charles Moreux, was commissioned with the design. Gerhard Kamps, the Catholic Church’s local architect in Hamburg, supervised construction.
The floor plan was determined by the old foundations, and many exterior elements recall the predecessor building, such as the brick façade, the two side portals, and the use of pilaster strips. Without the sandstone portico, one would scarcely suspect a French architect. The Latin inscription “SERVATE UNITATEM SPIRITUS IN VINCULO PACIS” (“Preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,” from Ephesians 4:3) highlights that the reconstruction was also intended as a symbol of international understanding.
