Henning Larsen announced that thay are designing a modern monument for Denmark’s capital Copenhagen. Designed in wood and wood shingle, the 18,837 square feet Ørestad Church reflects the nature of Ørestad’s open landscape, embracing the community and its surroundings – an inverted facade design creates protrusions within the deep church walls, an extroverted space for the community. Set amongst open landscape and common land, Ørestad in Copenhagen is known for its expressive architecture. Conjuring the sensation of standing under a canopy of trees in a forest, our design for Ørestad Church features wooden roof domes through which light cascades. The chapel is bathed in light from above and opens up the view of the sky, drawing people’s gaze. The hall is the clearing in the forest, where the light is refracted in a variety of ways throughout the day and year. The facade of the church is rough, like bark on a tree, and changes character through the seasons and over time. The church is connected to its surroundings by a continuous brick floor of various tones and glazing, referencing fallen leaves, that rises to become benches, sitting niches, and podiums – the path from the city and the common lead directly into the church. Community consultation has informed the types of programming the building will house. As well as a flexible church room that can be adapted to hold a range of services and ceremonies, the church also holds a chapel, a shielded courtyard, a church office, and informal cultural spaces that can be used for communal eating, small concerts, yoga, dancing, or lectures. The inverted facade is activated on all sides creating an urban shelf with seating niches, a book exchange, a drinking fountain, and games and chess tables. Referencing cloister gardens, the church's building protects the courtyard but lets the light fall from above. The shady corners give way to a garden where visitors can sit for quiet reflection. The landscape consists of grasses, herbaceous perennials and cherry trees inspired by the nearby Amager Fælled – a protected natural area. The winning proposal was delivered in collaboration with Platant and Ramboll, and we are providing both both architectural and landscape services. Among proposals from Lundgaard & Tranberg, Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter, Konsordium OOPEAA:WE, and Cobe a judging panel consisting of both professional judges and members of Islands Brygge Parish Council selected Henning Larsen as the winner of the competition. Construction is expected to start in 2024, and the church will be consecrated in 2026.
Henning Larsen announced that thay are designing a modern monument for Denmark’s capital Copenhagen. Designed in wood and wood shingle, the 18,837 square feet Ørestad Church reflects the nature of Ørestad’s open landscape, embracing the community and its surroundings – an inverted facade design creates protrusions within the deep church walls, an extroverted space for the community. Set amongst open landscape and common land, Ørestad in Copenhagen is known for its expressive architecture. Conjuring the sensation of standing under a canopy of trees in a forest, our design for Ørestad Church features wooden roof domes through which light cascades. The chapel is bathed in light from above and opens up the view of the sky, drawing people’s gaze. The hall is the clearing in the forest, where the light is refracted in a variety of ways throughout the day and year. The facade of the church is rough, like bark on a tree, and changes character through the seasons and over time. The church is connected to its surroundings by a continuous brick floor of various tones and glazing, referencing fallen leaves, that rises to become benches, sitting niches, and podiums – the path from the city and the common lead directly into the church. Community consultation has informed the types of programming the building will house. As well as a flexible church room that can be adapted to hold a range of services and ceremonies, the church also holds a chapel, a shielded courtyard, a church office, and informal cultural spaces that can be used for communal eating, small concerts, yoga, dancing, or lectures. The inverted facade is activated on all sides creating an urban shelf with seating niches, a book exchange, a drinking fountain, and games and chess tables. Referencing cloister gardens, the church's building protects the courtyard but lets the light fall from above. The shady corners give way to a garden where visitors can sit for quiet reflection. The landscape consists of grasses, herbaceous perennials and cherry trees inspired by the nearby Amager Fælled – a protected natural area. The winning proposal was delivered in collaboration with Platant and Ramboll, and we are providing both both architectural and landscape services. Among proposals from Lundgaard & Tranberg, Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter, Konsordium OOPEAA:WE, and Cobe a judging panel consisting of both professional judges and members of Islands Brygge Parish Council selected Henning Larsen as the winner of the competition. Construction is expected to start in 2024, and the church will be consecrated in 2026.