link arkitektur: froeyland orstad churchimage © hundven-clements photography

 

 

divided into two levels with 600 seats at the place of worship, the froeyland orstad church by link arkitectur is the first religious institution in norway to implement a baptismal pool. winning the award for best accessibility for people with disabilities in 2009, the building had the highest average of people going to worship in 2010.

 

the expression and design relates to the west-coast landscape in the southern part of norway, where the church is situated – 25 km south of stavanger in a small village called orstad. in this region, the terrain is both open with flat planes and in other parts hilly. placed into the ground with a green roof, the architecture expresses an extension of the vast scenery surrounding it. the roof continuously slopes in two directions – as white triangular forms combined with vertical and horizontal structures impose strong sacral emphasis towards the overall composition.

 

 

link arkitektur: froeyland orstad church - 2facade image © hundven-clements photography

 

 

one approaches the church along an axial path and guidelines with custom-made concrete tiles depicting biblical quotes. the passage begins outside, leading the user all the way up to the altarpiece. a wave within the wooden ceiling creates an intimate space in the rear, rising dramatically upwards like clouds in the sky.

 

 

link arkitektur: froeyland orstad church - 3facade image © hundven-clements photography

 

 

link arkitektur: froeyland orstad church - 4facadeimage © hundven-clements photography

 

 

link arkitektur: froeyland orstad church - 5altarpiece viewimage © hundven-clements photography

 

 

the foyer has a flexible interior configuration which also serves as a communal-area for services, coffee shops, gatherings and more. at the ground level, there is inventory for children and youth activities. walls and materials are kept in light neutral colors, with some contrast in selected areas. an indirect lighting ambiance creates a poetic atmosphere, where at night, the external illumination accentuates the shape of the church.

 

 

link arkitektur: froeyland orstad church - 6universal access image © hundven-clements photography

 

 

link arkitektur: froeyland orstad church - 7wooden ceiling like clouds in the sky image © hundven-clements photography

 

 

link arkitektur: froeyland orstad church - 8baptismal poolimage © hundven-clements photography

 

 

link arkitektur: froeyland orstad church - 9altarpieceimage © hundven-clements photography

 

 

link arkitektur: froeyland orstad church - 10altarpieceimage © hundven-clements photography

 

 

link arkitektur: froeyland orstad church - 11600 seatsimage © hundven-clements photography

 

 

link arkitektur: froeyland orstad church - 12communal areaimage © hundven-clements photography

 

 

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