The New Cathedral of the Northern Lights (2001)
Schmidt Hammer Lassen - SHL
Facts:
Architect
schmidt hammer lassen architects
Client
The Municipality of Alta
Area
2,100 m²
Competition
2001, 1st prize in invited international competition
Status
Construction period 2009 - 2011
Cooperating Architect
Link Signatur Architekter A/S
Landscape Architects
schmidt hammer lassen architects
Description:
The new Cathedral of the Northern Lights is located in Alta, a small town north of the Arctic Circle in the northernmost part of Norway. The town council wanted to have a new cathedral which would be an iconic building – both an architectural landmark and a fitting environment for observation of the Northern Lights.
The dynamic contours of the new church soar upward in a spiral shape, culminating with the tip of the clock tower 30 metres above the ground. This double spiral design defines the cathedral’s exterior and is intended to symbolise the meeting place of man and God.
The central space within the spiral houses the cathedral sanctuary, which is a peaceful and contemplative space in contrast with the dynamic form of the rest of the building and the daily life outside. The central point of the spiral where the motion stops and the light streams in is marked by the location of the baptismal font. The church also accommodates an administrative section, lecture rooms and a congregational hall.
The lower level of the church building is flooded with light from large glass façades. A secondary layering of oblique screens constructed of laminated titanium envelops the entire building, including the windows and the clock tower. This device enhances the sculptural quality of the design as well as it reflects the Northern Lights when they illuminate the long periods of darkness during the Arctic winter. The laminated structure reflect the mysterious light shifts, accentuating the different effects this produces during the changing seasons and at different times of the day. Symbolically, the apertures within the titanium screens increase in size towards the upper part of the spiralling church tower.
The symbolic importance of the Northern Lights is subtly reflected in the design of the cathedral. The building is intended to signify Alta’s role as a place from where to observe the phenomenon of the Northern Lights. An area has therefore been specifically created inside the building where visitors and churchgoers can watch the Northern Lights.
The aim of highlighting the location of the cathedral is also expressed in the choice of materials used in that birchwood and the local Alta slate are the main materials. The roof has a slate covering, and the floor in the cathedral sanctuary is also laid with polished slate. The interior of the cathedral is lit by the warm glow of light-coloured birchwood cladding the interior.
The new Cathedral of the Northern Lights is essentially a product of its environment and its local culture. The building is far more than merely a tourist attraction; it is a marker symbolising the extraordinary natural phenomenon that defines its location.
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