New Church for Valer church parish \ Krill Architecture

New Church for Valer church parish, courtesy Krill Architecture

An Open Ring in the Woods

In commissioning the competition, the church of Våler chose for a seldomly witnessed step in church history, one that always comes with interesting results. Tapping on a source of collective creativity in modern architecture offers the chance to bring the development of church architecture to a new level. A building combining monumentality to accessibility, openness to spirituality, is awesome, while being friendly. In short: a church fitting in this time.

night: night view of the church, courtesy Krill Architecture

inside: being inside, the experience of what is outside is not cut off, courtesy Krill Architecture, courtesy Krill Architecture

The church building is designed for two important, but seemingly incompatable demands: the open character of the gathering space (Domus Ecclesiae), involving the church in the community, and the closed character of the spiritual, secluded space (Domus Dei), promising peace of mind. It is for that reason that the church will be placed as an open ring in a newly designed park. The ring, enclosing a patio, will be lifted on one side, giving people the opportunity to come in, without crossing a threshold. One is just there.

history: the new scheme completes a historical line in development of church typology, courtesy Krill Architecture

the scheme combines the wish for a public space without tresholds and a place for religious intimacy, courtesy Krill Architecture

Within the surroundings of the ring several spaces are collected unther a partly open roof. Outside, reachable through the ring shaped passageway wordly functions are positioned, such as the toilets, storage and technical spaces, but also the rooms for pastor and eldermen. That way their offices are also reachable from outside. The ruins of the old church will be cladded with granite and solar collectors. The old church warms the new that way.

(open ring is derived from R. Schwarz)

Site plan, courtesy Krill Architecture

+ Project facts

Client: Valer church parish, competition
Architect: Krill Architecture
Design: Harmen van de Wal, with Raimonda Cybaite, Jiri Serek, Christine Sundberg
Program: church
Date: november 2011
Location: Valer, Norway

+ All images and drawings courtesy Krill Architecture