Community Church Knarvik / Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter

Community Church Knarvik / Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter - Windows, FacadeCommunity Church Knarvik / Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter - Image 3 of 39Community Church Knarvik / Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter - Windows, ChairCommunity Church Knarvik / Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter - ChairCommunity Church Knarvik / Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter - More Images+ 34

  • Architects: Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  2250
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2014
  • Photographs
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  Alvdal Skurlag
Community Church Knarvik / Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter - Image 3 of 39
© Hundven Clements Photography

Text description provided by the architects. The new Community Church in Knarvik, located on the scenic west-coast of Norway north of Bergen, is built on a privileged site overlooking the cultural landscape and local town centre. The building is carefully adapted to an existing hillside between built and natural environment, providing the church with an inspiring context of the surrounding heath landscape. Its distinctive and innovative character and central location makes it a landmark in the community, to be inviting and inclusive for all people to cultivate their faith throughout the week.

Community Church Knarvik / Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter - Image 19 of 39
© Hundven Clements Photography

The church signals its function with a sacral dignity and recognisable form, where the church spire, sanctuary and chapel are emphasised by ascending roof planes. Inspired by the local tradition of Norwegian stave churches, the building utilizes clear and elemental geometries, materials and constructions.

Community Church Knarvik / Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter - Chair
© Hundven Clements Photography

The compact building volume is split into two stories on a rectangular plan, separating the sacred spaces above from the cultural and administrative functions below. An internal “church square” connects the two levels with an atrium stair into a continuous space, and may be joined or separated from the sanctuary with sliding glass walls to accommodate more than 500 people.

Site Plan 2

Wood is the key material of the project, expressed in the homogeneous cladding of pre-weathered pine heartwood and mirrored by the light-coloured pine finish on all interior surfaces. The building permits daylight into its volume through lancet-reminiscent tall and narrow windows, splayed in plan to maximise admittance and reduce glare. At night, the warm glow of the interior reveals the activities of its religious and cultural events.

Community Church Knarvik / Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter - Image 20 of 39
© Hundven Clements Photography

The church aspires to provide a platform for a safe upbringing for children and youth, to become a local venue for gatherings and faith, and to facilitate art, music and cultural development. The Community Church Knarvik has an architectural expression, spatial solutions and materiality which unites religion, culture and the site-specific context into a whole.

Community Church Knarvik / Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter - Coast
© Hundven Clements Photography

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Project location

Address:Knarvik, Norway

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
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Cite: "Community Church Knarvik / Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter" 08 Dec 2014. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/574811/community-church-knarvik-reiulf-ramstad-arkitekter> ISSN 0719-8884

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