House of Religions - Dialogue of Cultures

What House of Religions - Dialogue of Cultures does

The House of Religions - Dialogue of Cultures (Haus der Religionen – Dialog der Kulturen) is a Swiss non-profit association (Verein) founded in 2014 and headquartered at Europaplatz 1 in Bern, Switzerland. It operates a 3,390 square meter facility housing eight religious communities — Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Alevis, Buddhists, Jews, Bahá'í, and Sikhs — five of which maintain permanent sacred spaces (Hindu temple, mosque, Christian church, Alevi Dergâh, Buddhist center), while three participate in programming. The organization reached approximately 33,000 visitors annually, conducted 338+ tours and workshops in 2024, and hosted 70 public events, with religious communities contributing approximately 5,000 hours of volunteer work per year.

The core service portfolio is community-led and event-driven, comprising (i) guided tours and educational workshops for schools, healthcare professionals, police, and the general public priced at CHF 200-300 per group, (ii) the Ayurvedic-kosher certified Restaurant Vanakam (transitioning to operation by Saivanerikoodam Hindu Association under a lease agreement from August 2026, expanding to evening à la carte service), (iii) the weekly Saturday Intercultural Brunch (9 teams, 19 countries represented in 2024), (iv) room rentals for external events, and (v) dialogue programming including the Respect-Iftar interfaith iftar and World Water Day 2026 with the UN Special Rapporteur. The technology layer is non-existent as a business; operations rely on a website with online reservation, a 10x/year newsletter, and standard social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter).

The revenue model is that of a subsidized non-profit: primary income is annual institutional funding from Kulturstadt Bern (CHF 300K), Reformed Church Bern-Jura-Solothurn (CHF 120K, rising to CHF 150K from 2027-2030), and Catholic Church Bern (CHF 50K), supplemented by foundation grants (Rudolf and Ursula Streit Foundation CHF 500K over five years; Herrnhut Society CHF 30K over ten years), membership dues (CHF 20-200 individual, CHF 200-500 institutional), private donations, workshop fees, and restaurant operations. Customer segments span schools/educational institutions, police/security sector, healthcare institutions, general public/tourists, the eight religious communities, and international governmental/diplomatic delegations.

Name

House of Religions - Dialogue of Cultures

Legal name

Haus der Religionen – Dialog der Kulturen

Website

https://haus-der-religionen.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The House of Religions is a Swiss non-profit association in Bern operating a 3,390 sqm facility housing eight religious communities under one roof. It serves schools, police, healthcare professionals, and the public via interfaith dialogue, tours, workshops, educational programs, room rentals, and the Ayurvedic-kosher Restaurant Vanakam.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Interfaith Community Center

NAICS

Religious Organizations (81311)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Interfaith & Ecumenical Councils and Dialogue Organizations (BPAGAJAJ)

Keywords

• Interfaith dialogue programs
• Intercultural education workshops
• Religious community hosting
• Cultural facility rental
• Interreligious visitor services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government and Church Funding: Primary revenue stream from public subsidies and church contributions: Kulturstadt Bern provides CHF 300,000 annually, the Reformed Church Bern-Jura-Solothurn provides CHF 120,000 annually (increasing to CHF 150,000 from 2027-2030), and the Catholic Church Bern provides CHF 50,000 annually. These institutional grants form the financial foundation.
2. Foundation and Private Grants: The Rudolf and Ursula Streit Foundation supports with CHF 500,000 over five years. The Herrnhut Society contributes CHF 30,000 over ten years. Additional smaller grants from other foundations, parishes, and private donors supplement operations.
3. Membership Dues: Individual members pay CHF 20 (youth/low income), CHF 50 (regular), or CHF 200 (patrons). Institutional members pay CHF 200 (regular) or CHF 500 (patrons). The organization actively recruits new members to broaden its support base.
4. Donations: As a nonprofit organization, the House of Religions relies on charitable donations from individuals and organizations to support its youth, cultural, and participation programs.
5. Educational Programs and Room Rentals: Revenue from guided tours and workshops (educational programs for schools, healthcare professionals, police), as well as room rentals for external events. Workshop fees range from CHF 200-300 per group.
6. Restaurant Operations (Vanakam): Restaurant Vanakam serves vegetarian cuisine prepared according to Ayurvedic principles and certified kosher. As of August 2026, operations transition to Saivanerikoodam Hindu Association under a lease agreement, expanding to include evening à la carte service alongside the Intercultural Brunch on Saturdays.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The House of Religions – Dialog der Kulturen operates a shared interfaith facility in Bern that hosts eight religious communities and delivers educational, cultural, and community programming. Its sellable offerings include guided tours, religion-specific and interfaith workshops for schools, healthcare workers, and police, an Ayurvedic-kosher vegetarian restaurant, a weekly intercultural brunch, event-space rentals, and a tiered membership program. It serves as a venue for the eight resident religious communities and a center for dialogue, training, and visitor services.

Product overview

The House of Religions – Dialog der Kulturen is a unique multi-religious community center in Bern, Switzerland, housing eight religious communities (Alevites, Bahá'í, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jews, Muslims, and Sikhs) under one roof. The organization offers a portfolio of services including Restaurant Vanakam (Ayurvedic-kosher vegetarian cuisine), Brunch Interkulturell, guided tours through sacred spaces, educational workshops for schools and professionals, room rentals, and cultural events. The services are designed to promote interfaith dialogue, intercultural understanding, and social cohesion. The facility spans 3,390 square meters including approximately 60% sacred spaces and 40% dialogue/community areas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Restaurant Vanakam An interfaith restaurant within the House of Religions serving vegetarian meals prepared according to Ayurvedic principles and certified kosher, featuring cuisine from Eelam (Sri Lanka), South India, and international cuisines. Operates lunch Tuesday–Saturday with à la carte dinner introduced from August 2026, open to the general public. From August 2026, operations are managed by the Saivanerikoodam Hindu association under a lease.
• Brunch Interkulturell A weekly intercultural brunch held every Saturday from 10:00 to 14:00 at the House of Religions, with rotating brunch teams from different countries preparing their national cuisine for the community.
• Guided Tours (Rundgänge) Guided tours of the House of Religions building led by knowledgeable guides, exploring the architecture and the five sacred spaces of the eight resident religious communities (Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Alevites, Buddhists, Jews, Bahá'í, and Sikhs). Available for individual visitors and groups booked through the reservation system.
• Educational Programs (Bildungsangebote) Workshops and educational programs for schools, healthcare professionals, and security personnel covering Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, anti-racism, and interfaith dialogue topics. Sessions are booked as group workshops at fixed per-session pricing.
• Room Rental (Raumvermietung) Rental of rooms in the House of Religions for external events, meetings, and gatherings, providing a unique intercultural environment centrally located at Europaplatz in Bern, available in multiple room sizes.
• Membership (Vereinsmitgliedschaft) Annual membership in the supporting association of the House of Religions, with individual membership tiers (CHF 20 youth/low-income, CHF 50 regular, CHF 200 patron) and institutional tiers (CHF 200 regular, CHF 500 patron), billed annually.
• Dialogue and Event Program (Dialog- und Veranstaltungsprogramm) Interreligious dialogue forums, lectures, panel discussions, and cultural events hosted in the dialogue area of the House of Religions, programming topics across religious traditions including World Water Day and Respect-Iftar gatherings.

Quantifiable outcome

• 33,000 visitors annually from Switzerland and abroad
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Haus der Kulturen und Religionen München (Munich House of Cultures and Religions)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 June 2026Host of the 2026 European Multi-Religious Houses conference 'Raum & Dialog'. Both houses share experiences on interfaith dialogue, facing similar challenges of limited financial and human resources and working toward greater social impact.
• Saivanerikoodam (Hindu Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Takes over full restaurant operations from August 2026 as a pilot project under a lease agreement. Founded as a GmbH to manage the restaurant, maintaining requirements for kosher and vegetarian offerings. Led by Hindu priest Sasikumar Tharmalingam.
• PH Bern (Pädagogische Hochschule Bern)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Educational partnership for the 'MehrBlicke NMG' professional development program: 'Religionen entdecken – religiöse Räume erleben' (Cycle 1) for teachers, enabling them to explore religious diversity for classroom application.
• toj Bern (Trägerschaft für die offene Jugendarbeit)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Planned cooperation for youth engagement, bringing open youth work expertise to support programming for young people in the interfaith setting.
• vatter&vatter PublishersupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Collaboration on a picture book (Wimmelbuch) about interfaith coexistence in Switzerland, designed as a tool for explaining the House of Religions and interreligious dialogue to children and families.
• Eidgenössische Jugendsession (Swiss Youth Parliament)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Contributing content on religious freedom for the Swiss Youth Parliament's programming, expanding visibility among young people.
• Reformierte Kirchen Bern-Jura-SolothurncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 March 2026Major institutional funding partner providing CHF 120,000 annually (increasing to CHF 150,000 from 2027-2030). Co-organizer of interfaith events including World Water Day 2026, bringing together religious communities for dialogue on water as a human right and spiritual resource.
• Katholische Kirche Region BerncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 March 2026Institutional funding partner providing CHF 50,000 annually. Co-organizer of interfaith events including the World Water Day 2026, contributing to the interreligious declaration on water as human right and public good.
• Blue CommunitysupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 March 2026Partner in the interfaith World Water Day 2026 event, contributing expertise on water as a human right and environmental issue.
• Pedro Arrojo-Agudo (UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights to Water)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 March 2026Keynote speaker at World Water Day 2026, addressing water as a human right and public good from an international perspective. The event produced the first interfaith declaration incorporating the spiritual value of water.
• National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 March 2026Collaborated on the Respect-Iftar interfaith iftar event, bringing together Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities for shared fasting experience and dialogue.
• Jüdische Gemeinde Bern (Jewish Community Bern)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 March 2026Partner in the Respect-Iftar interfaith iftar event. One of eight religious communities in the House of Religions, with representation in the association's governance.
• Muslimischer Verein Bern (Muslim Association Bern)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 March 2026Partner in the Respect-Iftar interfaith iftar event. One of eight religious communities in the House of Religions, maintaining sacred space in the mosque area.
• Inter-Buddhistischer Verein im Haus der Religionen (Inter-Buddhist Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Hosts weekly Vipassana meditation sessions every Tuesday 18:00-18:45 in the Inter-Buddhist Center. One of eight religious communities maintaining a sacred space and organizing regular programming open to all regardless of tradition or experience.
• Naturhistorisches Museum BernsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlanned collaboration for an exhibition 'Oh mein Gott. Wissen wir zu viel, um noch zu glauben?' with a framework program, bringing interfaith perspectives to the museum context.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Haus der Kulturen und Religionen München: Munich's House of Cultures and Religions operates a comparable multi-faith facility model with dialogue programs. The organizations explicitly partner - Munich hosted the 2026 European Multi-Religious Houses conference 'Raum & Dialog' - and share challenges of limited financial and human resources.
• House of One (Berlin): Berlin project building a single structure housing a church, synagogue, and mosque, along with a shared meeting room. Construction model and interfaith coexistence mission closely parallel Bern's House of Religions multi-religion-under-one-roof concept.
• Abrahamic Family House (Abu Dhabi): A multi-religion complex in Saadiyat Island housing a mosque, church, and synagogue, opened in 2023. Most operationally comparable physical facility to Bern's House of Religions in terms of co-located sacred spaces and interfaith programming.
• Interfaith Center of New York: NYC-based nonprofit operating as a meeting place for people of different faiths and cultures, with programs spanning dialogue, education, and arts. Directly comparable in mission as a hub for interfaith encounter and culturally competency workshops.
• Three Faiths Forum (Washington, D.C.): Forum dedicated to building understanding among Abrahamic and other faith communities through education, dialogue, and joint action. Comparable programmatic portfolio of cross-cultural workshops, leadership convenings, and educational materials.
• Temple of Understanding: New York-based interfaith education and advocacy organization founded in 1960. Comparable in its educational programming and advocacy for interfaith understanding across diverse communities.

Broad incumbents

• KAICIID Dialogue Centre (Vienna): King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue - a larger international intergovernmental organization promoting interfaith dialogue globally. Overlaps with Bern's educational and policy convening role on a much larger scale.
• Parliament of the World's Religions: Largest international interfaith convening organization producing major gatherings and ongoing programs across faiths. Overlaps with Bern's international delegation and convening function but at a much larger scale.

Emerging players

• The Woolf Institute (Cambridge): Academic-affiliated institute advancing interdisciplinary understanding between religious traditions. Comparable in their niche educational and research-driven approach to interfaith relations, though smaller-scale academic rather than facility-based.

Regional players

• Swiss Federal Council of Religions (Rat der Religionen / Interreligiöse Arbeitsgemeinschaft Schweiz): Swiss interreligious working group that convenes national religious bodies for dialogue at the federal level. Comparable national-level interfaith coordination but operates through policy convening rather than a physical facility.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/hausderreligionen
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCzT0hBxGh3yXzJK3X5G7T3g
• Facebookfacebook.com/hausderreligionen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/haus-der-religionen
• Instagraminstagram.com/haus_der_religionen

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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