Lost in Space
This post is part of the series Bad Craziness, an extravaganza of architecture and design from the World Design Capital 2012, Helsinki. The opinions of certain architects may be ignored in the crafting of these posts.
I expected a crater, the violence that happens when an object from outer space rams into Earth. Temppeliaukio, the Rock Church, looks like a space ship landed, released its contents on an unsuspecting populace, and decided to stay, to embed itself into the crust of rock and pass itself off as a place of worship.
On the walk up the hill, I was underwhelmed. By the weird dome. By the rocks and concrete. By the cave-like entrance. Danger, Will Robinson. I think I actually whispered it as we heaved open the copper door and walked inside.
And, I suck. I SUCK at architecture.
I was transported. A circular, cave-like space, hewn from rock, with a sunny, almost cheery, top. We sat in the balcony, whispering with reverence. MTM told me how he used a slide of this church when teaching architecture students about materials and light, never thinking he would actually see it in person.
I’m glad he did. Finally. The space was a gift to him and to me.
Beautiful!!!
It really was.
I never imagined the Finns spending so much time in church. Maybe they just design them. This is such a fantastic building – quite breathtaking. If our society needs churches, it needs churches like this. Churches that celebrate the magic and majesty of nature and the ingenuity and tenacity of man. Great post.
There are significant church buildings all over Helsinki, all of them Lutheran. This one and the Chapel of Silence have been my favorites, because they do usher in a sense of stillness and awe.
Amen.
Reminds me ever so slightly of the church in which we attended a funeral for the mother of Bill’s best friend. That one was set into a hillside, with stone and timber interior and large clerestory windows all around at the height of trees. One sat in the church, surrounded by glowing wood, stone and the images of the tree tops shifting in the wind like a natural choir. (The church is in Raleigh.) I thought when we left, this is how all churches should be.
It would be a treat to see that place sometime, Cheryl. It sounds divine.
Though now that I’ve gone and looked the church up, it has less stone than I remember. It has a totally modern entrance. http://www.ourladyoflourdescc.org/ And then a volume of light and wood.
In fact, looking closely at the pictures, I see there is no stone. I remember slate somewhere…ah well, the evanescence of memory.
Serene. Your first picture of the street gives me the feeling that you can just barely make out the dome of Temppeliaukio and gives a good impression of what it must be like to come upon it, Andra. It gives me a sense of the catacombs and early Christians, worshipping, hidden. Your video gives a sense of what the acoustics must be like. Wouldn’t it be a grand experience to hear a concert here? I’m glad you and MTM got experience this.
They’re having free Christmas concerts all over the city tomorrow. We have been trying to decide which one to take in. Maybe the one there would be worth it.
Little outside to impress, but WOW!! I’m in agreement with Penny; the choir must sound absolutely magnificent in there!
It is quite impressive outside, especially climbing up the rock to the dome roof.
Oh, that is just perfect, Andra! I love it – very James Bond. What it needs now is a large volcanic island to set it of nicely. Or maybe MTM could don a DJ and bow tie.
I could see a Bond scene filmed there………
That is really cool – I’m loving these pictures. They have a sense of adventure that ought to spark amazing stories.
I hope so, Jessie. I’m pretty dry right now in the story department. Not blocked. Just not inspired, somehow.
Again, I love it! This is so odd it is just glorious! I was reading the comments from others and I think we are all a little surprised at such unique designs you’ve shared overall, but this is top of the heap for me. The sense of space and proportion in this church is awesome! And I think I’d be ushered into a greater sense of worship in a sanctuary that feels this powerful. You’ve done such a good job of taking photos and representing the buildings well, Andra. In my attempts to capture “large” well, I’ve found that difficult!
We are going to a concert there tomorrow night, if we can get tickets. So, I hope to be able to report on what it sounds like.
According to MTM, the architect, the key to photographing buildings is to get bits and pieces rather than the whole thing. Sometimes it works. Sometimes not.
That is spooky cool, totally alien and delightful, but oddly what fascinates me is the traveling root of the word “kirkko,” tumbling truncated from the mouths of Scots as they pay their respects in kirk of a Sunday.
Very cool . . . love the light from out to in and the space within. Thanks, Andra.
Lovely. I want your pictures for my lectures. Really.
What a neat space. The outside really doesn’t key you in to what a great interior that is.
Looks like something out of 2001 A Space Odyssey or Close Encounters. I guess it might be beautiful if I met the place personally, but it all looks just so cold and unfriendly to me.
Absolutely beautiful. Absolutely.