Knarvik Community Church, Knarvik

Knarvik Community Church is a one of the world spectacular iconic religious buildings. The knarvik Community Church is located in Knarvik in Norway. Unlike the typical religious church buildings, this building has a touch of stunning contemporary architecture style. 

This structure was designed by Reiuf Ramstad Arkitekter’s (RRA). The devotional structure stands as an actualization of a modern religious architecture.

This structure sits on a hill and overlooks the Knarvik. The church building is tall spire and also ascending, triangular roof planes. The ascending roof planes are inspired by the local traditional of Norwegian stave churches. (Stave: one of several thin strips of wood). The building utilizes clear and elemental geometric, materials and constructions.

Knarvik Community is made from wood. According to the Architect “wood is the key material of the project” and “wood is very interesting material, it is very sustainable here because it is so cheap to produce”.  Homogenously used throughout the construction. The wood cladding used for the exterior of the church is made from pre-weathered pine heartwood, giving the church a silvery patina that evokes the texture quality of traditional Scandinavian woodland cabins. The floor, walls and the slanting ceilings clad are locally sourced pine.

The church building volume is split between two storeys. The top level has the scared space with the other, while the non-devotional areas are located on the ground level.

 
 

The church windows are long strips vertical windows. The church has an internal square called “church square”. The church square connects the top and bottom level with an atrium stairs and that leads into a continuous space. This continuous space may be joined or separated from the sanctuary with sliding glass walls to accommodate more than 500 people.

According to the Architects “the Knarvik Community Church has an architectural expression, spatial solutions and materiality which unites religion, culture and the site specific context into a whole”.

Images © Hundven Clements photography

Courtesy of Reiuf Ramstade Arkitekter.