Grey stone outside, bright colours inside: tenants have found an unusual home inside Herz-Jesus Church in Mönchengladbach-Pesch. After two parishes in the district were merged in 2007, the religious building initially stood empty. Schleiff Denkmalentwicklung built 23 barrier-free flats in the church sponsored by the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Students and pensioners moved into the building due to the low rents in an inner-city area. The outside of the historic landmark was preserved. Inside, the church-cum-residential building is fit for the future thanks to sustainable concepts.