Ørestad Church: A Modern Wooden Masterpiece Designed by Henning Larsen for Copenhagen

The Ørestad Church in Copenhagen, designed by Henning Larsen, serves as a modern tribute to the city and its community. Inspired by a clearing in the trees, this wooden and wood shingle structure blends seamlessly into its open landscape surroundings. The unique design features an inverted façade, which creates protrusions in the church walls and offers a welcoming, extroverted space for the community.

 

As a hub of expressive architecture, Ørestad is well known for its innovative designs. Henning Larsen's winning concept for the Ørestad Church adds another exciting chapter to the area's architectural story.

“The intention is to create a church that can command attention, untouched by the bustle of the city, filled with spaces of distinguished simplicity that offer residents solace from their everyday life. Tasked with designing a building that lingers in your mind, we have chosen to create a building that sits in complete harmony with its surroundings,” says Jacob Kurek, Global Design Director, Henning Larsen.

A remarkable sculptural roof has emerged as a new eco-friendly landmark and serves as a gathering point for the local community. The design for Ørestad Church by Henning Larsen creates a feeling of being beneath a leafy canopy in a forest, with wooden roof domes that allow light to pour through.

“Stepping into the church, the connection to nature will ignite people’s spirituality. 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. Building in wood and harnessing the power of the light was the obvious solution, for the climate, for the context and for the community,” says Jacob Kurek.  

The exterior of the church boasts a rough texture, similar to the bark of a tree, that evolves and alters with the changing seasons and as time goes by. The church's connection to its environment is reflected through a seamless brick floor that exhibits different shades and hues, reminiscent of fallen leaves. This floor transforms into seating arrangements, small alcoves, and stages, serving as a direct pathway from the city centre and the public area straight into the church.

“We have great expectations that the new church will become a meeting point for both the parish and the community in Ørestad. It has been our goal to create a sustainable church that is completely its own and contributes to Ørestad's tradition of experimenting with the built environment," says Nina la Cour Sell, Design Director, Henning Larsen.

The design of a new church presents a chance to incorporate cutting-edge ideas on social sustainability into its foundation. Community input has shaped the types of activities that the building will facilitate. 

In addition to a versatile church space that can be transformed for various services and events, the church also features a chapel, a secluded courtyard, a church office, and informal cultural areas that can be utilized for communal dining, intimate concerts, yoga, dance classes, or educational talks. 

The unique exterior design features an activated façade on all sides, providing an urban shelf with seating alcoves, a book exchange, a drinking fountain, and gaming and chess tables.

The church building, referencing cloister gardens, safeguards the courtyards while still allowing light to shine through from above. Visitors are welcomed to a peaceful garden where they can sit and reflect, surrounded by shades and shadows in the corners.

The design of the landscape, incorporating grasses, herbaceous perennials, and cherry trees, is inspired by the nearby Amager Fælled, a protected natural area.

The winning proposal for the church was a collaboration between Henning Larsen, Platant, and Ramboll. Henning Larsen has extensive experience in designing religious buildings and churches in Denmark, including Højvangen Church set to open in 2024, Herlev Hospital's Center for Contemplation and Faith, Enghøj Church, and Ringsted Communal Crematorium.

A panel consisting of professional judges and members of Islands Brygge Parish Council chose Henning Larsen's proposal among other submissions from Lundgaard & Tranberg, Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter, Konsordium OOPEAA:WE, and Cobe.

Construction of the church is slated to commence in 2024, and its consecration is expected in 2026.

 

Press release and images courtesy of Henning Larsen