Vennesla Church
Architect: LINK Arkitektur
Location: Vennesla, Norway
Type: Church
Year: 2023
Photographs: Inger Marie Grini
Sacred rooms with poetic light
The following description is courtesy of the architects. The new Vennesla church is a cornerstone for a larger church complex in Vennesla and will be a new landmark in the county of Agder.
The church building balances between a sacred and sculptural expression, with joint use across generations for the congregation and the church employees.
The new Vennesla church will supplement the old Vennesla church and function as the new main church in the parish. With the motto “Samklang”, LINK Arkitektur has designed a bright and inviting facility for multiple activities. An efficient and open floor plan is adapted to multi-use and appears inviting and easily accessible to the congregation and employees.
The design of the building
The ambition has been to create an inviting and flexible church building to stimulate togetherness and experiences in the local community for generations to come. The chapel is beautifully coupled with the construction and architecture well integrated into each other. Emphasis has been placed on creating a building that is socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable.
The church design is composed of several roof volumes. The chapel is placed at the back, the church square and assembly areas towards the front. The building can easily be partitioned for parallel events and common functions as all amenities are centrally located. The architects have strived to design efficient space utilization and flexible solutions. The administration’s location on the second floor above the activity section works well as a separate but central unit. The activity rooms for children and young users are located to the south thus connecting well with the primary school.
Beautiful green surroundings
The church is beautifully situated in a church grove extending from Venneslafjorden in the west, through the old parsonage and the primary school through to a small ridge to the east. Between the church and the cemetery, an open space has been established that pull together the footpaths towards the area from the south, west and north and is framed by the bell tower which also marks the church’s main entrance. This square is the focal point of the new church.
The new church harmonizes well with the old church. The building is designed to complement the old church but at the same time stand out as an independent, sacred building. The square in front of the church is inviting and facilitates social gatherings for the community.
Drawings
Project Details
- Location: Vennesla, Norway
- Client: Vennesla Kirkelige Fellesråd
- Status: Finished
- Gross Area: 1.530 m²
- Photo: Inger Marie Grini
