JKMM Architects
Viikki Church
Helsinki, Finland
The Viikki Church forms the core of an area plan, based on JKMM Architect’s winning entry, that will be implemented gradually.
Photo: Arno de la Chapelle
The client’s brief asked for a modern successor to a long tradition of Finnish wooden churches, taking into account the ecological ideas and criteria of sustainability for the entire Viikki area.
Constructed with prefabricated factory-made components, the church combines modern and ancient building methods, sophisticated and rough-hewn surfaces, location and purpose, temporality and eternity.
The untreated and grey-aged facade is clad in cleft aspen shingles and fine-sawn drop siding.
Photo: Jussi Tiainen
Photo: Jussi Tiainen
Photo: Kimmo Räisänen
Photo: Kimmo Räisänen
The building has been braced by attaching insulated outer wall elements to the pillars and the ceiling panels. The acoustical elements of the false ceiling are form pressed veneer elements.
The architect’s vision of a space gouged in a forest is realized in the halls of the church where the lines of the eaves echo the forms of groups of trees, making the building part of the trees surrounding it.
Photo: Arno de la Chapelle
Photo: Arno de la Chapelle
Photo: Arno de la Chapelle
Photo: Arno de la Chapelle
The interior lining of spruce was treated with a wash of lye, leaving them easy to clean and renew. Furnishing and lighting was designed by the architects to suit the church’s activities. The altar furnishings, highlighted by cleft aspen surfaces, are outlined against the tripartite silver altarpiece.
Photo: Arno de la Chapelle
Photo: Arno de la Chapelle
Photo: Arno de la Chapelle
“Architecture wishes to evoke impressions of the Finnish forest; of its sacredness and common nature. Dense wooden clustered columns and beams are architect-created structures. The structural idea is essentially defining the whole. The detail of the outer wall reflects a design concept by itself. The aim has been the all-wood atmosphere which is devout and uplifting.”
JKMM Architects
Drawing courtesy JKMM Architects
Site Plan
Drawing courtesy JKMM Architects
First Floor Plan
Drawing courtesy JKMM Architects
Second Floor Plan
Drawing courtesy JKMM Architects
Third Floor Plan
Drawing courtesy JKMM Architects
Section A-A
Drawing courtesy JKMM Architects
Section B-B
Drawing courtesy JKMM Architects
Section C-C
Site area: 3,411 square meters
Built area: 1,566 square meters
Completed: 2005
Client: Helsinki Parishes, Markku Koskinen
Architects: JKMM Architects
Samuli Miettinen
Asmo Jaaksi
Teemu Kurkela
Juha Mäki-Jyllilä
Project Team:
Päivi Meuronen
Janne Järvinen
Hella Hernberg
Teemu Toivio
Johanna Ojanlatva
Johanna Rope
Sini Kukkonen
Landscape architect: Molino ltd / Jyrki Sinkkilä
Structural engineer: Ylimäki & Tinkanen ltd
Jukka Ukko
Jani Pitkänen
Photgraphed by Arno de la Chapelle , Jussi Tiainen
and Kimmo Räisänen
June 30, 2008