Photos: Tuomas Uusheim.
As today is the first day of
Lent it seems fitting that we should feature a church. The Kamppi Chapel of Silence designed by
K2S Architects is located in a central and busy district of Helsinki. As an oasis it provides a warm enveloping space where worshippers can feel at one with God but also with nature in the heart of the city.
The use of timber to create the free-form double curving volume conveys the impression of being in a space created by nature, a nest perhaps or even the eye of a great storm. This space is reserved for the chapel itself.
Elsewhere a concrete volume houses the support facilities including entrance arrangements. The entrance foyer is an important part of the church. It acts as a welcoming space for the city where visitors will casually meet the clergy going about their business. To encourage such interaction, exhibitions will also be held in this space.
At the technical level, the external cladding is from spruce which has been finger jointed. It is protected from the elements by a nano-tec wax. It covers a CNC milled gluelam frame, whilst inside the chapel the walls are lined with thick alder planks that have been oiled in the traditional way.
Gratitude to
e-architect.
