Spikkestad Church and Cultural Centre / Einar Dahle Arkitekter + Hille Melbye Arkitekter

Spikkestad Church and Cultural Centre / Einar Dahle Arkitekter + Hille Melbye Arkitekter - Brick, Windows, Facade
© Jiri Havran

Spikkestad Church and Cultural Centre / Einar Dahle Arkitekter + Hille Melbye Arkitekter - ChairSpikkestad Church and Cultural Centre / Einar Dahle Arkitekter + Hille Melbye Arkitekter - Windows, Facade, GardenSpikkestad Church and Cultural Centre / Einar Dahle Arkitekter + Hille Melbye Arkitekter - BrickSpikkestad Church and Cultural Centre / Einar Dahle Arkitekter + Hille Melbye Arkitekter - BeamSpikkestad Church and Cultural Centre / Einar Dahle Arkitekter + Hille Melbye Arkitekter - More Images+ 24

  • Contractor Brick: Tveiten & Riis AS
  • Engineers: Dr. Tech Kristoffer Apeland AS, Sivilingeniør Finn Madsø AS, Sweco Norge
  • Client: Røyken Kommune, Røyken Kirkelige Fellesråd
  • Client Representative: Asplan Viak
  • Contractor Brick: Tveiten & Riis AS
  • City: Spikkestad
  • Country: Norway
More SpecsLess Specs
Spikkestad Church and Cultural Centre / Einar Dahle Arkitekter + Hille Melbye Arkitekter - Windows, Facade
© Jiri Havran

Compact, yet generous, with an ample capacity for simultaneous use.
Einar Dahle Arkitekter and Hille Melbye Arkitekter received 1st prize in the 2014 design competition for a new church and cultural center in Spikkestad, Norway. In May 2018, “Teglen” (meaning “the brick” in Norwegian) was completed and inaugurated. The building is shared in both ownership and use by state church and municipality, and embodies a consecrated church room, a neutral ceremonial room, a café, activity-rooms, administrative offices, and municipal services.

First floor plan
Spikkestad Church and Cultural Centre / Einar Dahle Arkitekter + Hille Melbye Arkitekter - Chair
© Jiri Havran

Concept
“Teglen” is conceptually perceived as a brick volume, elevated from the public town square and gently inserted into the adjacent sloping terrain. The key act of lifting the introvert ceremonial functions up over the ground floor lets the extrovert functions such as café, activity rooms and municipal services connect to the town square. With its red brick flooring, the town square connects the building with the train platforms like a “red carpet”.

Spikkestad Church and Cultural Centre / Einar Dahle Arkitekter + Hille Melbye Arkitekter - Brick
© Jiri Havran

The iconic east façade, the “wall of kings”, rises vertically up over the town square, establishing a clear orientation and a strong fond motif. The resulting shape of the building draws resemblance and reference to both traditional church spires and the towering brick chimneys of the Spikkestad brick factory formerly situated on the neighboring property.

Spikkestad Church and Cultural Centre / Einar Dahle Arkitekter + Hille Melbye Arkitekter - Facade
© Jiri Havran

Flexibility and simultaneous use 
The plan concept for the upper level can be read as an interpretation of a traditional cruciform plan, or even a cross-in-square plan, where both main entrance and vertical communication is placed in the northern transept. The main body is divided into three main spaces, the consecrated church room to the east, the neutral ceremonial room to the west, and an interconnecting central space – the crossing, and separated by floor-to-ceiling oak-clad folding doors.

Spikkestad Church and Cultural Centre / Einar Dahle Arkitekter + Hille Melbye Arkitekter - Windows, Facade, Garden
© Jiri Havran

Along with in total eight entrances over the two levels, and a generous staircase with amphitheater connecting the levels, the organization facilitates a variety of both flexible and simultaneous uses within a compact and effective body. This addresses the multitude of challenges of the initial design program, while also expanding it with new layers of possibilities.

Spikkestad Church and Cultural Centre / Einar Dahle Arkitekter + Hille Melbye Arkitekter - Chair
© Jiri Havran

Light, structure, and materials
The upper volume is covered in a maintenance-free brick cladding tied to a concrete core structure. The ceremonial rooms are defined by two 3,45 meters high concrete beams that run continuously through the building. The pillars supporting the beams form the aisles in the church room and define spaces for secondary functions. The ground level is fitted with floor-to-ceiling glass in order to maximize contact with the town square, creating a seamless threshold between interior and exterior.

Spikkestad Church and Cultural Centre / Einar Dahle Arkitekter + Hille Melbye Arkitekter - Chair, Beam
© Jiri Havran
Section

The ceremonial rooms are mainly naturally lit. Skylights bathe the brick walls of the aisles and the site-cast concrete of the altar wall in a soft light. Generous glassed apertures cut seamlessly through the many layers of the building´s skin and interior structure, connecting the inner spaces with the outer spaces.

Spikkestad Church and Cultural Centre / Einar Dahle Arkitekter + Hille Melbye Arkitekter - Brick
© Jiri Havran

Project gallery

See allShow less

Project location

Address:Spikkestad, Norway

Click to open map
Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Spikkestad Church and Cultural Centre / Einar Dahle Arkitekter + Hille Melbye Arkitekter" 05 Feb 2019. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/910590/spikkestad-church-and-cultural-centre-einar-dahle-arkitekter-plus-hille-melbye-arkitekter> ISSN 0719-8884

© Jiri Havran

挪威小城的新教堂和文化中心 / Einar Dahle Arkitekter + Hille Melbye Arkitekter

You've started following your first account!

Did you know?

You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.