The Nordhavn Tiny Church The Competition

https://arkitektforeningen.dk/nyheder/aaben-arkitektkonkurrence-tiny-church-i-nordhavnen/

The Tiny Church architecture competition was announced in 2022 with the winning entry awarded on the 7th of March 2023. The competition, the prize money and the construction costs are being funded by Kirkefondet and the Hans Egedes Parish. To accompany the competition there was also a written brief which set aside the vision for the future project, which will be completed before November this same year (Kirkefondet, 2022).

The winning entry is Tolvekanten by the Julius Neilsen Office. The design is a twelve faced form, each face representing one of the twelve disciples. The design also includes 5 trees of Robinia pseudoacacia around the church. These elements of the church were considered when designing for the surrounding landscape.

The church is also importantly not a permanent structure and will be in place until 2027. As a result the accompanying design should also be able to exist on it own without the reference of the church (Kirkefondet, 2022).

Retrieved: https://www.kirkefondet.dk/arkitektkonkurrence-tiny-church-i-nordhavn.html

• The Fiskerihavn identity

• Sorrounding infrastructure acts a wind break

• Isolation from the city

S.W.O.T Analysis S

• Lack of accessibility and sidewalks

• Public transport options

• The large cell tower

• Tiny Church lacks community engagement

• Poor drainage on site

• The site provides a blank canvas

• A creative, inviting community

• Future Nordhavn development

• Future use and users are unpredictable

• Future Nordhavn development

• Gentrification

Aim: to suggest a spiritually restorative landscape that

Evidence

Design Criteria

Design Solution

Kirkefondet makes clear that the Tiny Church should expand the possibilities of the Hans Egedes Parish “not simply double them”

(Kirkefondet, 2022)

Kirkefondet outlines it is important the site is “able to support outdoor activities and events”

(Kirkefondet, 2022)

The church yard should ac-commodate methods of spirituality outside of the theistic.

Spaces for an individual to contemplate and reflect on their inner spiritual well-being.

The site should contain areas for activity as well as for spiritual restoration.

Areas closer to the church will facilitate more activity, social interactions with restorative areas deeper in the landscape.

The 4 Domains of SWB describes how users should feel “a sense of awe, wonder… (and) unity with the environment.”

(Fisher, 2011)

The site possesses existing boulders and streetlamps defining certain edges and 5 trees

(Site analysis, Tiny Church analysis)

ART describes how fears and preferences can affect people’s perception of an environment.

(Kaplan & Kaplan, 1998)

The environment should evoke awe and wonder from users.

Discoverable points of natural fascination will be hidden in the landscape

The design should include and enhance the site conditions.

Site qualities such as boulders, street lamps will and the sites unique character will be enhanced.

The environment should be easily understood while still inviting exploration

The design will have a maze like quality of discovery while still maintaining a certain order.