Detailed front elevation. Viiki Church, Viikin kirkko, Helsinki, Finland. Architect: JKMM Samuli Miettinen, 2005.
In commissioning a new church for Viikki, the Lutheran Church wanted a contemporary successor to the long tradition of Finnish timber churches. JKMM Architects responded with a remarkable design, evoking the stillness and nature of the surrounding forests: in the interior, through dense clustered columns and beams, and the striking Elämän puu (Tree of life) altarpiece in mahogany and silver; to the exterior, in weathered aspen shingles. Particular attention was paid to practicalities: in construction, prefabricated factory elements were used where possible, while interior spruce was treated with a lye wash, making it easy to maintain. JKMM won the Chicago Athenaeum International Architecture Award 2006 for Viikki Church. The upper part of the building houses the church spaces, and its exterior is clad with thick aspen shingles, which will turn grey over time. Constructed with prefabricated factory-made components, the church combines a number of complementary aspects, including m
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Photo credit: © Alex Hill-VIEW / Alamy / Afripics
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