Viikki Church
JKMM Architects

Photo: Arno de la Chapelle

The Viikki Church forms the core of an area plan, based on JKMM Architect's winning entry, that will be implemented gradually.

The client's brief asked for a modern successor to a long tradition of Finnish wooden churches, taking into account the ecological ideas and criteria of sustainability for the entire Viikki area.

Constructed with prefabricated factory-made components, the church combines modern and ancient building methods, sophisticated and rough-hewn surfaces, location and purpose, temporality and eternity. The untreated and grey-aged facade is clad in cleft aspen shingles and fine-sawn drop siding.


Photo: Jussi Tiainen

Photo: Jussi Tiainen

Photo: Kimmo Räisänen

Photo: Kimmo Räisänen

The building has been braced by attaching insulated outer wall elements to the pillars and the ceiling panels. The acoustical elements of the false ceiling are form pressed veneer elements. The architect's vision of a space gouged in a forest is realized in the halls of the church where the lines of the eaves echo the forms of groups of trees, making the building part of the trees surrounding it.


Photo: Arno de la Chapelle

Photo: Arno de la Chapelle

Photo: Arno de la Chapelle

Photo: Arno de la Chapelle

The interior lining of spruce was treated with a wash of lye, leaving them easy to clean and renew. Furnishing and lighting was designed by the architects to suit the church's activities. The altar furnishings, highlighted by cleft aspen surfaces, are outlined against the tripartite silver altarpiece.


Photo: Arno de la Chapelle

Photo: Arno de la Chapelle

Photo: Arno de la Chapelle

Architecture wishes to evoke impressions of the Finnish forest; of its sacredness and common nature. Dense wooden clustered columns and beams are architect-created structures. The structural idea is essentially defining the whole. The detail of the outer wall reflects a design concept by itself. The aim has been the all-wood atmosphere which is devout and uplifting.

/JKMM Architects

Drawing courtesy JKMM ArchitectsSite Plan

Drawing courtesy JKMM ArchitectsFirst Floor Plan
Drawing courtesy JKMM ArchitectsSecond Floor Plan
Drawing courtesy JKMM ArchitectsThird Floor Plan
Drawing courtesy JKMM ArchitectsSection A-A


Drawing courtesy JKMM ArchitectsSection B-B
Drawing courtesy JKMM ArchitectsSection C-C