Kamppi Chapel in Simonkatu 7, Helsinki, Finland by K2S Architects Ltd

Article source: K2S Architects Ltd

The Kamppi Chapel is located on the south side of the busy Narinkka square in central Helsinki. It offers a place to quiet down and compose oneself in one of Finland’s most lively urban spaces. With its curved wood facade, the small sacral building flows into the city scape. Simultaneously the chapels gently shaped interior space embraces visitors and shields them from the bustling city life outside.

Image Courtesy © Marko Huttunen

• Architects: K2S Architects Ltd
• Project: Kamppi Chapel
• Location: Simonkatu 7, Helsinki, Finland
• Photography: Tuomas Uusheimo, Marko Huttunen
• Client: Helsinki Parish Union and the City of Helsinki
• Completion: April‐May 2012
• Total floor area: 352 m2
• Structural engineering: Insinööritoimisto Vahanen Oy, Matti Kivinen, Ulla Harju
• Design team: Jukka Mäkinen, Kristian Forsberg, Abel Groenewolt, Tetsujiro Kyuma, Mikko Näveri, Miguel Pereira, Outi Pirhonen, Teija Tarvo, Elina Tenho, Jarno Vesa

Image Courtesy © Marko Huttunen

The chapel can be approached from all directions. From the direction of the Simonkatu, one arrives at a small square opening up towards the Narinkka square. From there, a flight of stairs leads down to the entrance level. Entrances are located in two glass facades facing the Narinkka square and the Lasipalatsi building.

Image Courtesy © Marko Huttunen

Only the actual chapel space is located in the wooden volume. Secondary spaces are located in a space opening up towards the square. The entrance space doubles as exhibition space, in which one also encounters clergymen and social workers.

The sacral space is a calm space, in which the lively neighborhood seems distant. Light touching down on the curved surface and the feeling of warm materials define the space. The chapel’s inner walls are made of thick oiled alder planks. The furniture is also made of solid wood.

Image Courtesy © Marko Huttunen

The facades are made of sawn‐to‐order horizontal finger jointed spruce wood planks, which are treated with a pigmented transparent nanotech wax. The constructive frame consists of cnc‐cut gluelam elements.

Image Courtesy © Tuomas Uusheimo

Image Courtesy © Tuomas Uusheimo

Image Courtesy © Tuomas Uusheimo

Image Courtesy © Tuomas Uusheimo

Image Courtesy © Tuomas Uusheimo

Image Courtesy © Tuomas Uusheimo

Image Courtesy © K2S Architects Ltd

Image Courtesy © K2S Architects Ltd

Image Courtesy © K2S Architects Ltd

Image Courtesy © K2S Architects Ltd

Image Courtesy © K2S Architects Ltd

Tags: Finland, Helsinki, Simonkatu 7

Categories: Chapel, Urban Design

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