In both scale and material the Karl Rahner Building adds a new dimension to its neighbourhood, a heterogeneous mix of villas and office blocks close to the old town centre of Freiburg in the southern Rhine valley. Brought together in this new building are three theological institutes that were previously on separate sites. It has a clear silhouette with almost chiselled articulation of volumes and openings. Blue-violet shaded bricks on the outer leaf of the cavity wall further enhance this impression. The bricks are wirecut engineering bricks, each one individually shaped and sintered with traces of enamel on the surface. The bricks were fired in an old peat-fuelled kiln. Barely detectable joints in this outer leaf of the cavity wall ensure adequate ventilation, stainless steel brackets support the facade at each floor, and stainless steel ties anchor it to the supporting wall of reinforced concrete behind.