Tent Shaped Church With Needle Tower

The Holy Cross Church, (Heilig Kreuz Kirche) at Sommerrain, Stuttgart, Germany is a strange tent shaped church with a 36 metre high needle shaped tower. Constructed in 1966 the church was designed by the architect Heinz Rall, who from late fifties onwards, had made a name for himself for designing churches with modern looks.

Besides the Church, the complex also includes a community hall (Gemeindezentrum), nursery school, the parsonage etc. Looking up from the base of the tower, it looks like a stairway to heaven. (View in Flickr)

As per Martin Schall, an amateur photographer with a very perceptive eye and a great collection of architectural photos from around the World (http://www.you-are-here.com) - the tent shape of the church is based on the command given by God to Moses; 

1. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2. On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. (Bible-Exodus: 40 King James Version)

Addendum 18/09/2010

Diane, Master Guide, Google Earth Community Forum has given two plausible suggestions for the needle shape of the tower. I am quoting below her remarks given in this GEC Post;

..... I doubt I have much light to shed regarding Biblical passages, but I do like visual metaphors. So, the tent one seems to fit. I then wondered about the tall, pointed object outside the church in your post. Two possibilities in the passage you reference:

"And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof."

or...

"And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy."

I suppose it could be seen as either a candlestick with a flame on top, or an oil bottle with its stopper.

Image Source: Google Earth

Image from you-are-here.com is by Martin Schall and used here after due permission.

Image from Wikimedia Commons is by Bear62

Image from Wikimedia Commons is by Bear62

View location in Google Earth / Google Maps

Source of info: German Wikipedia (English Translation) / Flickr image 'Stairway to Heaven' by Batik

Credits: I am thankful to Martin Schall, who besides giving me permission to use image from his fantastic collection also gave me the reason for the tent shape of the church. Thank you Martin.