Photo credit: Jussi Tiainen

Photo credit: Jussi Tiainen

The church’s main areas have been positioned on the street corner so that they are visible from far away; the copper clad steeple is separate from the church to complete the approach to the church. The parish wing, with its everyday activities, has been placed alongside the street.

The large surfaces of the halls’ façade are protected by green-patinated copper sheets. The strips of 15, 20 and 25 cm vary at random.

The brown-patinated light towers on the yard side shine like lighthouses at night; during the day, they let in sunlight for the interior spaces.

The height and character of the interior spaces vary, highlighting each functional space; from the low, smooth ceiling in the foyer, we move on to the taller pergola hall that lies between the interior and exterior spaces, beyond which we find the bright church hall.

The interior surfaces are made of pine and birch plywood, boarding and acoustic wood louvres.

The floors of the halls are made of oil-treated pine planks, giving rise to the impression that it is a music box or a wooden container.

The wall and ceiling structures are made of glulam in the form of pillars and stiffening boards.

The artwork of cross-end cuts of wood in the altar is partly framed by copper sheets.

Laajasalo’s wooden church was realised on the basis of the winning proposal from an invite competition held in 2000. The church was consecrated during Advent in 2003.

Photo credit: Jussi Tiainen

Photo credit: Arno de la Chapelle

Photo credit: Jussi Tiainen