SYDHAVN CHURCH

NEW CHURCH AND PARISH CENTRE BY THE WATERFRONT OF COPENHAGEN

From a historical background characterized by brickworks, clay extraction, and shipping, the new district of Teglholmen in Copenhagen has gradually transformed its industrial character into a modern and attractive urban area, where the water in the canals and harbour basins plays a central role in the urban landscape. Here, in this steadily growing residential area, a new church is being built with a special function as a gathering place. The complex will provide a beautiful and flexible setting for both formal church services, ceremonies and contemplation, as well as for more informal activities such as cultural and social events.

THE WOODEN CHURCH – COMBINING TRADITION AND PRESENCE

With its central location by the water, Sydhavn Church and Parish Centre will have a distinct and visible profile as a landmark for the neighbourhood. The building is oriented towards the cardinal points, where the church’s traditional world axes are incorporated into its design.

The ambition is a robust modern church that will stand for more than 100 years. Beyond accommodating religious functions, the church is an active element in local everyday life, providing a wide range of social and cultural activities. Open and inviting as part of the public urban space, it meets present and future demands for a spiritual space with great and flexible usability.

The church is designed as a monolithic building consisting of square timber modules. Without a fixed directional orientation in the floor plan, it is oriented both towards city and water, with a distinctive curved roof that frames the entrance with the porch and bell tower, as well as the church space with altar, water, and daylight from above.

The church space itself is located on the first floor, overlooking the water and harbour. A key element is the desire to incorporate the water as an integral part of the church interior. There will be visual contact from the church space to the water surface, and the atmosphere of the room will absorb light and reflections from the surrounding water as well as from the skylight beneath the distinctive woven timber ceiling. The church space becomes a ceremonial sensory space – a meeting between sky, earth, and water.

THE CHURCH AS AN INTEGRATED ELEMENT OF THE DISTRICT

The ground floor will house public cultural and parish functions. Appearing transparent, it opens towards both harbour and city through the large publicly accessible park, which as a calm and beautifully landscaped outdoor space is adapted to its unique location at the edge of the city by the water.

The park can include facilities for the benefit of the neighbouring daycare institution and the area’s residents. With its open and accessible character, the park becomes a natural gathering place for everyone in the area, creating connections between the different parts of the district.

The church is constructed as a compact volume of glulam timber structures, focusing on combining beautiful, durable, and sensory materials with a low climate footprint in both construction and operation. The interior and exterior surfaces are finished in light-treated wood, and the floors are tiled/in brick.

The church is designed with Cornelius Vöge as architects in collaboration with Rørbæk Møller (lead consultant), Thing Brandt as landscape architects, and Artelia Engineers.

Culture

Transformation

Public

Private

Planning